This paper takes a drum type corn thresher as the research object. A 3-d discrete element method (DEM) numerical model of the thresher designed using 3-d CAD software is established. Subsequent numerical model of the corn ears is constructed based on the particle agglomeration method. On this basis, corn threshing analysis software has been developed using Visual Studio 2010. The effects of drum rotation rate and feeding amount on the corn ear threshing rate and number of separated corn kernels produced over the drum length are studied. Good agreement has been found between the numerical results and experimental data. As the drum rotation rate, and the feeding amount increase, the corn ear threshing rate increases, and the number of separated corn kernel decreases over the drum length. The feasibility and effectiveness of analysing the corn threshing process using DEM and the allied software are validated. (C) 2015 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.