PERFORMANCE OF GRAPPLE SKIDDER IN DIFFERENT GROUND INCLINATIONS

Carlos Cezar Cavassin Diniz,Nelson Yoshihiro Nakajima,Daniel Francisco Balensiefer,Cícero Jorge Fonseca Dolácio,Franciele Alba Da Silva,Renato Cesar Gonçalves Robert

doi:10.5380/rf.v49i1.55744

Carlos Cezar Cavassin Diniz, Nelson Yoshihiro Nakajima + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5380/rf.v49i1.55744

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Journal: FLORESTA	Publication Date: Dec 17, 2018
Citations: 5	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Federal University of Paraná

Abstract

Land slope contributes to decrease the productivity in the forestry sector activities, including skidding operations. Thus, it is important to study it in order to improve the forest operations planning. Based on this hypothesis, this study aims to analyze the times of the operational cycle and the productivity of the skidder in slope terrain. The study was conducted in Pinus taeda plantations of a forest company located in the CentralWest region of the state of Paraná, Brazil, in three slope classes: flat to moderate, steep and very steep. The data were obtained by the continuous timing method in a time study. Productivity and mean effective cycle time were determined for the three slope classes. The results show that the search and load and the unloading slopes are the ones that consume less time between the activities evaluated in the operational cycle. Considering the slope classes evaluated, flat to moderate and steep require less time to perform all activities of the operational cycle, and their productivities are higher, when compared to the very steep slope class. The productivity of the very steep slope class was 35.3% and 45.0% lower than the flat to moderate and steep classes, respectively. Skidding with skidder on slopes over 26.1º should be avoided because the productivity is negatively influenced in this condition.

Highlights

With the opening of the Brazilian market for importation, at the beginning of the 1990 decade, it was possible to acquire sophisticated equipment and of high technology, when comparing to the machines used until by companies of forest base
Arce et al (2004) states that forest harvesting represents the final operation of forest production cycle, in which the most valuable products are obtained, constituting one of the factors that determine the forest profitability
Average effetive time A total of 126 operational cycles were collected for each forest drag slope class performed by skidder, value higher than the minimum required of 101 cycles for a maximum sampling error of 10%

Summary

Introduction

With the opening of the Brazilian market for importation, at the beginning of the 1990 decade, it was possible to acquire sophisticated equipment and of high technology, when comparing to the machines used until by companies of forest base. The mechanization of the activity of forest harvest passes for moments of great innovations and technological advances, when the assembly plants seek to ally technology, precision and robustness in its machines. The harvest of wood, along with the carriage, has great importance in economic terms within the wood production chain, representing around 50% or more of the final cost of the product ranked in industry (MACHADO, 2014). According to Machado et al (2008), the harvesting activity includes cutting down of trees, processing and extraction of wood. Arce et al (2004) states that forest harvesting represents the final operation of forest production cycle, in which the most valuable products are obtained, constituting one of the factors that determine the forest profitability According to Machado et al (2008), the harvesting activity includes cutting down of trees, processing and extraction of wood. Arce et al (2004) states that forest harvesting represents the final operation of forest production cycle, in which the most valuable products are obtained, constituting one of the factors that determine the forest profitability

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Results

Conclusion