Dynamic Response of a Rollover Protective Structure

Abstract

Abstract: Roll Over Protective Structures (ROPS) are safety devices fitted to heavy vehicles to provide protection to the operator during an accidental roll over. At present, ROPS design standards require full‐scale destructive testing that can be expensive, time consuming, and unsuitable for small companies. More economical analytical methods are not permitted due to a lack of understanding of post yield behavior and the energy absorption capacity of ROPS. To address this, a comprehensive research project was undertaken to investigate ROPS behavior using analytical techniques supported by experiments. This article presents the dynamic impact analysis of a bulldozer ROPS using calibrated finite element models. Results indicate that (1) ROPS posts have significant influence on the energy‐absorbing capacity, (2) dynamic amplifications in energy could be up to 25%, (3) stiffer ROPS cause high peak decelerations that may be detrimental to the operator, and (4) analytical techniques may be used for evaluating ROPS performance.