Abstract The paper elaborates the working mechanism of a brush shape cleaning element of a sugarcane harvester, and analyzes the state of the cleaning procedure and the reacting force to which the cleaning element is subjected. Combined with earlier stage experiments and research, it was found that the factors which affect the cleaning efficiency and fatigue life of the cleaning element are numerous, and also complex and random. Thus it was difficult to analyze and design a cleaning element in theory. Moreover, if the design parameters were to be obtained from the experiment it would be time consuming, laborious, and costly. The method of a numerical value simulation orthogonal experiment is used to analyze the reacting force by means of establishing a finite element analysis model for the cleaning element on ANSYS. According to the orthogonal experiment principle, different parameter groups were made for finite element calculation, and then orthogonal experiment analysis and regression analysis were conducted to determine the effect on the calculated result that was caused by the changes of different parameter groups, and thus obtain the optimal design parameters of the cleaning element. In summary, this virtual design method is a quick and efficient way in innovative mechanical product design.