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The Integration of Mechanical Energy Absorbers into Rollover Protective Structures to Improve the Safety of Agricultural Tractors in the Event of Rollover

Author

Listed:
  • José R. Alfaro-Lopez

    (Department of Engineering, Public University of Navarre, Campus Tudela, 31500 Tudela, Spain)

  • Amaya Perez-Ezcurdia

    (Department of Engineering, Public University of Navarre, Campus Arrosadía, 31006 Pamplona, Spain)

  • Juan-Ignacio Latorre-Biel

    (Department of Engineering, Public University of Navarre, Campus Tudela, 31500 Tudela, Spain
    Institute of Smart Cities, Public University of Navarre, Campus Arrosadía, 31006 Pamplona, Spain)

  • Ignacio Arana-Navarro

    (Department of Engineering, Public University of Navarre, Campus Tudela, 31500 Tudela, Spain)

  • Marta Benito-Amurrio

    (Department of Engineering, Public University of Navarre, Campus Arrosadía, 31006 Pamplona, Spain)

  • Pedro Villanueva-Roldán

    (Department of Engineering, Public University of Navarre, Campus Arrosadía, 31006 Pamplona, Spain)

Abstract

The combination of safety belts and rollover protective structures (ROPSs) is key in improving the safety of agricultural tractors in the event of rollover. However, we also have the opportunity to enhance the security provided by each ROPS; one such example is the combination of this safety device with adequate mechanical energy absorbers (MEAs). Inexpensive disc-shaped MEAs can be included in the anchoring points of a ROPS onto the chassis of a tractor. Three configurations of ROPS combined with MEAs were tested during the application of loads that simulated the effects of side rollover in the vehicle. The tested configurations included a blank MEA as a reference case alongside a single MEA and a stack assembly containing both elements. The results of the tests show that both the deformation of the ROPS itself and the strain energy are larger in the case of blank MEAs; thus, there is also a risk that the clearance zone will be infringed upon and that the protective structure will collapse. We can conclude that the implementation of an appropriate MEA in ROPS reduces the deformation of the ROPS itself and its strain energy in cases of vehicle rollover; hence, the safety provided by such protection systems may be improved at a low cost.

Suggested Citation

  • José R. Alfaro-Lopez & Amaya Perez-Ezcurdia & Juan-Ignacio Latorre-Biel & Ignacio Arana-Navarro & Marta Benito-Amurrio & Pedro Villanueva-Roldán, 2024. "The Integration of Mechanical Energy Absorbers into Rollover Protective Structures to Improve the Safety of Agricultural Tractors in the Event of Rollover," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-22, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:14:y:2024:i:7:p:1050-:d:1425838
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ryu-Gap Lim & Wan-Soo Kim & Young-Woo Do & Md. Abu Ayub Siddique & Yong-Joo Kim, 2023. "Performance Evaluation of a Virtual Test Model of the Frame-Type ROPS for Agricultural Tractors Using FEA," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Lucia Vigoroso & Federica Caffaro & Margherita Micheletti Cremasco & Eugenio Cavallo, 2022. "Improving Tractor Safety: A Comparison between the Usability of a Conventional and Enhanced Rear-Mounted Foldable ROPS (FROPS)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-14, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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