Abstract
The frame structure of the trailer may influence both the traction and the tractor-trailer stability, especially along sloped paths. The aim of this research was to analyze a trailer overturning and the strains on the connected tractors (wheeled, or crawled) during log transportation (loose or tied) along a hillside. Two two-axle trailers were used: tandem and turntable steering. Three types of measurements were carried out during the field tests: (i) the detachment from the ground of the rear upstream wheels (or crawler); (ii) the transversal and longitudinal strains occurring when the trailer overturned (and released the hooking system of the tractor); (iii) the lateral deviation of the rear wheels (or crawler) of the tractor. The study highlighted that the two-axle trailer with turntable steering combined with the crawl tractor gave better results in terms of safety during trailer overturning. In addition, independent of the type of trailer, a tied load was found to be more dangerous than a load restrained only by steel struts, because when overturning, the load forms a single unit with the trailer mass which increases the strains.
Highlights
In the NACE (Nomenclature of the Economic Activities) statistics in Europe, the number of fatal accidents in agriculture and forestry lies in third place (14.8%), after the activities of construction
In all the tests the lowest lateral deviation of the tractor wheels was produced by the two-axle trailer with turntable steering
Inoverturning; the Italian alpine territory two‐axle tandem trailers areduring usually usedoverturning for their technical trailer the tied load is dangerous because trailer its mass on the tractor), this study highlighted that the two‐axle trailer with turntable steering is safer for the characteristics
Summary
In the NACE (Nomenclature of the Economic Activities) statistics in Europe, the number of fatal accidents in agriculture and forestry lies in third place (14.8%), after the activities of construction (21.5%) followed by transportation and storage (16.7%) [1]. Forestry and logging are among the most hazardous activities in agriculture: compared to other agricultural activities, the percentage of fatal accidents at work in this sector is never lower than 16% (Figure 1). The main cause of deaths by tractors is machine overturning [5], especially when it is operating along sloped terrains for logging operations [6]. There are many reasons that affect the dynamic stability of the tractor [7,8]. They may depend on driver behavior (driving style, forward speed), on the environment (slope, rough terrain, stones, stems, potholes) or on the presence of additional weights connected to the tractor (trailers, towed implements, ballasts)
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