Development of ROPS Criteria for Construction and Industrial Vehicles

Performance standards for roll-over protective structures (ROPS) have been developed for four classes of equipment-TTT, loaders, motor graders, and wheel scraper prime movers. The criteria were developed by studying the behavior of roll-proven structures in a laboratory and converting these observations into numerical relationships.

The criteria establish five major requirements:

1. 1.
   Resist horizontal force-related to machine weight.
2. 2.
   Absorb energy-must deflect without catastrophic failure.
3. 3.
   Withstand vertical load after deflection equal to machine weight.
4. 4.
   Meet above requirements without entering critical zone.
5. 5.
   Must perform at 0 F or material must exhibit Charpy “V” notch impact strength of 8 ft-lb at -20 F.