Finite Element Analyses and Correlation with Physical Tests of a Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS) Performance

In all agricultural tractors and construction machines, a number of passive safety devices are used to ensure that the operator is free from injury in the event of an accident. In case of overturning of the tractor, the parts which aim to protect the operator by providing a living area where he/she can stay inside without being damaged are called as Rollover Protective Structures (ROPS). The main reason for this is that the usage of tractors and construction equipment has increased considerably. The widespread use of these machines brings with it the possibility of accidents, and with the introduction of international standards, this situation forces the tractor and construction machinery manufacturers to take measures in this regard. Therefore, ROPS design in tractors is becoming an important issue day by day. In this study, the analysis of the designed ROPS equipment by the finite element method is performed and it has been examined whether it conforms to the protective structure standards before the prototype production. When the prototypes produced after virtual verification were tested according to the relevant performance standards, there was an acceptable level of correlation between the analysis and test results. Based on this correlation, it is possible to predict the behavior of a protective structure in tests at the design phase, so it renders possible to reduce the prototype and test costs