Finite element analysis, design optimization and correlationwith physical tests of a rollover protective structure (ROPS)performance

Safety structure and equipment usage on tractors have been increasing day by day depending on mechanization in agriculture. With the increasing on agricultural mechanization, tractor usage increased dramatically and therefore encounter frequency of fatal accidents in tractor usage increased also. As a result of this situation, various national and international regulations related to protective structures have been constituting. There are mainly two types of protective structures on tractors as called cabinet and frame types. For the cabinet type protective structures, the cab itself is designed as a protective structure regarding standards. The frame type protective structures are designed regarding standards also to save the driver when the tractor rollover occurs. In this study, the performance of a frame type rollover protective structure (ROPS) according to related standards was examined. Firstly, the performance of the current design of the protective structure was examined with finite element method regarding sequential physical tests. By taking advantage of the correlation between analysis results and physical tests, optimization studies are performed on current design. After performing optimization studies, protective structure was redesigned and final design's performance analysis results were validated with physical tests also.