Improving the Design and Performance of Forest Machine

Operator Protective Structures

A cooperative effort by Auburn University's Biosystems Engineering Department and the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station and its engineering research work unit in Auburn, AL.

Investigators:
Steven E. Taylor, PE                              Robert B. Rummer
Associate Professor                                  Project Leader
       Auburn University                              USDA Forest Service

Project Overview

Background
Statistics reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that timber harvesting is one of the most dangerous occupations in the US. These statistics show when timber harvesting occupations are compared to all other occupations, timber harvesting accidents result in greater numbers of fatalities and greater numbers of injuries leading to lost workdays. Many of these accidents involve forest machines that have rolled over or have contacted stationery objects. A primary concern in these accidents is the protection of the machine operator.

Currently, there are several SAE standards that cover design and performance criteria for operator protective structures (OPS) on forest machines. Some of these standards prescribe test methods for the OPS. However, in some cases, the performance criteria have been developed without thorough knowledge of actual forces experienced by the OPS when operating in the forest. Also, there are several areas in the testing and performance standards that allow variation in testing procedures. Little is known about how different interpretations in the test procedures may lead to different test results. Therefore, research is needed to thoroughly examine the service loads that forest machine OPS can experience in the operation and then to develop testing procedures that accurately account for these service loads.

The first phase of our research is focused on glazing materials used in operator protective structures.

Objectives
The specific objectives of this project are to:
1. Develop estimates of actual service loads that might be experienced by the glazing used on forest machine operator protective structures.
2. Design and fabricate a test fixture to allow non-destructive and destructive tests of glazing assemblies used on forest machine operator protective structures.
3. Develop specific testing procedure recommendations for standardized methods of testing glazing assemblies used in forest machine operator protective structures.