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DOI: 10.15507/2658-4123.26363.462-482

UDK 631.31:531.133.3:001.8

 

Numerical Analysis of the Dynamics of Free-Swinging Knives with a Curved Edge in Rotary Cutting Machines: The Results of a Parametric Study

 

Vitaliy V. Krasovskiy
Associate Professor of the Department of General Technical Disciplines, V. I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University (4 Vernadsky Ave., Simferopol 295007, Russian Federation); Cand.Sci.( Eng.), Head of the Department of Mechanization of Production and Development of New Types of Equipment, Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea (150 Kievskaya St., Simferopol 295043, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5556-9531, Researcher ID: KFB-1012-2024, SPIN-code: 4234-0138, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ilya M. Trofimov
Post-Graduate Student of the Department of Technical Systems in Agribusiness, V. I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University (4 Vernadsky Ave., Simferopol 295007, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1738-6910, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Aleksey A. Zavaliy
Dr.Sci. (Eng.), Associate professor, Head of the Department of General Technical Disciplines, V. I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University (4 Vernadsky Ave., Simferopol 295007, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0806-1110, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Abstract
Introduction. Modern rotary cutting machines are of high energy consumption, while their impact loads negatively affect of the cut quality. Increasing efficiency and ensuring a gentle cutting mode is possible when using free-swinging knives with a curved edge in the design of the cutting machine. This requires the development of a dynamic model taking into account the knife interaction of with the branch, the inertial forces and the spring mechanism elastic properties.
Aim of the Study. The study is aimed at evaluating the dynamics of free-swinging knives with a curved edge in rotary cutting machines. The evaluation was based on a mathematical model of force balance to determine the optimal parameters of the free-swinging knife.
Materials and Methods. The object of the study was the process of cutting one-year old grape-vine branches with a diameter of D = 20 mm and with physical and mechanical properties corresponding to the shear strength σ = 1·106 Pa. To conduct the study, there was developed a mathematical model of the force balance of a free-swinging knife. This model was described by a system of equations, taking into account the forces of inertia, spring elasticity and resistance of the branch material. The numerical solution of the system was carried out by the Runge – Kutta method of the 4th order in the Mathcad software environment. The parametric analysis of the rotor speed variation ω was conducted in the range of 25–100 s–1 and of the spring force in the range of 10–200 N. The study was performed in the following sequence: setting of the initial geometric and physical and mechanical parameters of the system; numerical simulation of knife dynamics for each set of parameters; analysis of the obtained dependences of the angle of deflection of the knife and the trajectory of the contact point; determination of optimal operating modes.
Results. In the article, there has been shown the dependence of the knife deflection angle on the rotor speed and the effect of spring stiffness. The pattern of the movement of the contact points of the cutting edge and the cutting off surface for rectilinear and spiral knives has been determined. The optimal ranges of rotor speed (ω = 28...36 s–1) and spring force (Fspr = 100...200 N) have been also determined for efficient cutting, ensuring minimal vibration and consistent cut quality on branches up to 20 mm in diameter.
Conclusion. Numerical solution has shown that the use of free-swinging knives with a curved (spiral) cutting edge reduces impact loads by 25–30% compared with straight knives due to a smoother sliding entry into the material. The results obtained can be used in the design and modernization of rotary cutting machines for viticulture and horticulture that will increase the equipment reliability, reduce energy consumption and improve the quality of cutting perennial plants.

Keywords: rotary cutting machine, free-swinging knives, curved edge, knife dynamics, parametric study, numerical simulation, impact loads, cut quality

Funding: The work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation Grant No. 26-26-20042 «Investigation of the dynamics of the interaction of working bodies with plants for the creation of adaptive systems for the protection of garden plantings (on the example of the Crimean region)».

Conflict of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

For citation: Krasovskiy V.V., Trofimov I.M., Zavaliy A.A. Numerical Analysis of the Dynamics of Free-Swingin Knives with a Curved Edge in Rotary Cutting Machines: The Results of a Parametric Study. Engineering Technologies and Systems. 2026;36(3):462–482. https://doi.org/10.15507/2658-4123.26363.462-482

Authors contribution:
V. V. Krasovskiy – ideas; formulation or evolution of overarching research goals and aims, development of methodology; application of statistical, mathematical, computational, or other formal techniques to analyses or synthesize study data; creation of the published work, specifically writing the initial draft (including substantive translation).
I. M. Trofimov – conducting a research and investigation process, specifically performing the experiments, or data collection; programming, software development; designing computer бprograms; management activities to annotate (produce metadata), scrub data and maintain research data (including software code, where it is necessary for interpreting the data itself) for initial use and later re-use; preparation, creation of the published work, specifically visualization.
A. A. Zavaliy – oversight and leadership responsibility for the research activity planning and execution, including mentorship external to the core team; verification, whether as a part of the activity or separate, of the overall replication / reproducibility of results / experiments and other research outputs; preparation, creation and presentation of the published work by those from the original research group, specifically critical review, commentary or revision – including pre- or post-publication stages.

All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 27.09.2025;
revised 23.01.2026;
accepted 09.02.2026

 

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