Advanced generation NIOSH automatically deployable rollover protective structure (AutoROPS)

Abstract

Advanced Generation NIOSH Automatically deployable Rollover Protective Structure (AutoROPS) Khaled Alkhaledi Safety is one of the most important aspects in every society. It is a major issue in the agricultural industry. Agriculture continues today as one of the most hazardous industries in the U.S. with comparatively high fatality rates. Despite the fact that a highly effective safe guard is available in the form of a rollover protective structure (ROPS), hundreds of farmers die each year due to tractor rollovers. The use of ROPS on farm tractors has attributed to saving numerous lives, and has prevented many human injuries over the years. Many tractors come with the ROPS factory installed; however, many ROPS were apparently removed by the tractor's owners due to the lack of the ROPS having a proper housing area on the tractor. For example, while working in an orchard, an improper housing area may cause the ROPS to damage produce located on low hanging tree branches. The prominence of tractor rollover incidents resulting in farm work related deaths, and the effectiveness of the ROPS in reducing such events, has resulted in the collaboration between The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and West Virginia University's Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department. The goal of this collaboration is to increase the level of ROPS safety and effectiveness. Engineering studies and tests have been done on The NIOSH AutoROPS based of SAE J-2194 Static Load Standard. The first purpose of this work is to study the base model for the second generation NIOSH AutoROPS based on J-2194 standard tests to insure that the base will absorb the impact loads during farm tractor's roll over. The second purpose is to design a new generation of the AutoROPS that is smaller in size and more cost effective. Using a computer-aided design program (ANSYS-professional version), the tests and simulations were completed. The NIOSH AutoROPS designs were structurally analyzed the to insure that they comply with the SAE J2194 standard. The results proved that those generations did absorb all loads applied in sequence on the AutoROPS and thus satisfied the SAE J-2194 standard requirements. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people whom have made this thesis' work possible. First, I would like to thank my whole family for their help, caring, and support throughout my entire masters degree program. Also I would like to show my gratitude and my thanks to my advisor and Chairperson, Dr. Kenneth Means. Thank you for your guidance, help, wisdom, and never ending patience throughout all of the hard and difficult times of this research. I would also like to thank Dr. James Smith for his assistance in sharing his ideas with me about this research.