ROPS Force and Energy Absorption from Simulated Overturn Analysis

In this paper a two dimensional dynamic analysis is used to simulate an overturning condition for crawler tractors. Input for the analysis includes tractor dimensions, surface conditions, force-deflection characteristics of the tractor's rollover protective structure, soil properties, initial tractor position, initial tractor velocity, tractor mass, and tractor mass moment of inertia. Results of the analysis are used to study the effect of tractor mass on the force and energy absorbed by the tractor's rollover protective structure.