The coefficient of rolling friction is an important physical property of a maize particle. It is difficult to obtain the value of this coefficient because of the irregular shape of maize particles. This paper describes an approach that combines the discrete-element method (DEM) and a physical test to determine the coefficient of rolling friction of irregularly shaped maize particles. A novel test platform was used to obtain the maize particle’s coefficient of restitution and the coefficient of static friction. EDEM software (DEM-Solutions, United Kingdom) was used to simulate the accumulation of maize particles on particles and on a zincified plate. The golden-section method was used to determine the range of the maize particle’s coefficient of rolling friction. A single-factor test was used to determine the relationship between the maize particle’s coefficient of rolling friction and their angle of repose. The results obtained from the EDEM simulation were compared with physical test results to determine the intergranular coefficient of rolling friction and the coefficient of rolling friction between maize particles and the zincified plate. Our study demonstrates that the angle of repose increases linearly with the coefficient of rolling friction of maize particles. The effect of the coefficient of rolling friction on the particle movement is studied. The physical verification test indicates that the obtained rolling friction of the maize particles is accurate. The findings of this paper provide a theoretical basis for maize-processing machine design and a discrete-element study of the motion of maize particles inside such machines.

滚动摩擦系数是玉米颗粒的重要物理性质。由于玉米颗粒的形状不规则，因此很难获得该系数的值。本文介绍了一种结合离散元素方法（DEM）和物理测试以确定不规则形状的玉米颗粒的滚动摩擦系数的方法。使用新型测试平台获得玉米颗粒的恢复系数和静摩擦系数。EDEM软件（英国DEM-Solutions）用于模拟玉米颗粒在颗粒和镀锌板上的积累。黄金分割法用于确定玉米颗粒滚动摩擦系数的范围。单因素试验用于确定玉米颗粒的滚动摩擦系数和它们的休止角之间的关系。将EDEM模拟获得的结果与物理测试结果进行比较，以确定晶间的滚动摩擦系数以及玉米颗粒与镀锌板之间的滚动摩擦系数。我们的研究表明，休止角随玉米颗粒的滚动摩擦系数线性增加。研究了滚动摩擦系数对粒子运动的影响。物理验证测试表明，所获得的玉米颗粒的滚动摩擦是准确的。