Operator protection in rollover events of articulated narrow track tractors.

Articulated steering arrangements, wheeled or tracked, are commonly used on agricultural tractors and earth moving machines. In Continental Europe and Italy in particular, this configuration is typical of narrow track tractors. Despite their widespread use, there is little research that specifically investigates articulated tractor rollover protective structure (ROPS) in-field performance with respect to the ROPS test procedures. The aim was to investigate the relevance of the standardised ROPS test procedures regarding articulation joint mobility. The shortcomings of the procedures concerning the Clearance Zone and ROPS testing are evidenced and discussed. It is a recommendation of this work that an update of the international testing procedure be developed for articulated tractor types. The paper indicates how this may be accomplished and presents remedial measures that can be implemented in the interim until this latter goal is achieved. • Articulated tractor yaw and roll DOF affect front/rear two-post ROPS clearance zone. • Tractor in straight configuration may not reveal clearance zone intrusion/exposure. • An experimental CAD method is proposed for clearance zone checking and ROPS design. • A ROPS capable of maintaining the clearance zone in all articulations was designed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]