Numerical Simulation of Crashworthiness and Occupant Restraint System of a Rollover Tractor

Abstract

AbstractSafety in agriculture is a crucial aspect to consider. The ultimate goal of safety in agriculture is to create a safe working environment and ensure the integrity of the food supply chain that provides resources for all. Modern agriculture depends heavily on heavy machinery, which increases the efficiency of many agricultural procedures. Unfortunately, tractors, cultivators, and power tools pose a serious hazard, as evidenced by numbers reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, where 146 people were fatally injured while working with or near tractors in 2018 alone. This study aims to analyze one of the most critical phenomena involving tractor occupants: rollover. By conducting an explicit finite element analysis (FEA) of a rollover test of a generic T5 tractor, the aim is to evaluate the biomechanical performance of the occupant focusing on the interaction between the occupant and the interior of the vehicle. Biomechanical parameters will be studied and compared with different case studies that may be useful for a better understanding of the situation. In particular, a case study with an unbelted dummy and another case study where the dummy has a seat belt will be analyzed. The innovation of this study is to compare the previous case studies with another case study. This is the introduction of an airbag placed on the side pillar of the tractor cab, which will contribute significantly to the reduction of fatal accidents.