Winter pruning of grapevine branches is essential vineyard management, and knowledge of the biomechanical properties of branches is crucial for effective pruning. This study analyzed the dynamic behavior of grapevine shoots through axial–radial tensile, three-point bending, and shear tests. The axial elastic modulus, the radial elastic modulus, and the flexural modulus of grapevine shoots were 797 MPa, 79.8 MPa, and 5890 MPa, respectively. A finite element model of the grapevine shoot was established using the measured data, and a three-point bending simulation was conducted. The flexural modulus value obtained from the simulation was 5700 MPa, with a deviation of 3.37% from the experimental average, demonstrating the model’s accuracy. Moreover, a mathematical regression model was developed to describe the relationship of the branch diameter with its maximum shear force and shear torque. Shear test simulations revealed the stress distribution during the shear process, with the maximum shear force and torque deviating 9.60% and 12.11%, respectively, from the experimental averages. This study provides data support for grapevine pruning automation. In the future, these findings may contribute to the development of automated mechanical pruning equipment for grapevines.

The current manual method for the removal of the casting riser for the valve body is characterized by low efficiency, and causes both environmental pollution and human health risks. To address these issues, an automatic method for the cutting of the...

The incorporation of various types of fillers is critical to enhancing the starved oil lubrication performance of PEEK matrix composites. In this work, PEEK composites reinforced with h-BN and SCFs were fabricated via a hot-pressing method, and the friction and wear behaviors under dry sliding and starved oil lubrication were systematically investigated. Surface oil wettability and Vickers hardness were characterized, and tribological tests were conducted on a ball-on-disk reciprocating tribometer. Worn surface topography and wear mechanisms were elucidated through laser scanning confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that h-BN effectively reduces the friction coefficient through its solid lubrication effect, while SCFs significantly improve the hardness and load-bearing capacity of the PEEK matrix. Under dry sliding conditions, the PEEK composite containing h-BN and SCFs achieves the lowest wear rate of 10.3 × 10⁻⁵ mm³/(N·m), which is 74.6% lower than that of pure PEEK, indicating a synergistic anti-wear effect. Under starved oil lubrication, PEEK/h-BN maintains the smoothest and lowest friction, and the presence of SCFs further improves wear resistance of PEEK composites despite a slight increase in friction. In addition, the fillers’ incorporation reduces the surface oil wettability of the PEEK composites; the dominant wear mechanism hence transforms from severe adhesive wear and plastic deformation in pure PEEK to mild abrasive wear.