Rollover protective structure (ROPS) performance criteria for large mobile mining equipment. Information Circular/1988

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6777991

Swan, S A

Certain types of mobile surface mining equipment are required to be equipped with rollover protective structures (ROPS) capable of protecting the operator in case of a rollover accident. The Bureau of Mines has developed ROPS performance criteria for wheeled front-end loaders. The report reviews the development of rollover test procedures and subsequent testing of ROPS for 52,000-, 286,000-, and 390,000-lb gross vehicle weight (GVW) loaders. The program consisted of both dynamic (roll) and static tests to assist in the development of the ROPS performance criteria. Each test included extensive instrumentation and photographic documentation to fully evaluate the performance of the ROPS. Data summarizing side, longitudinal, and vertical force and deflections are included. The data indicate that for loaders in excess of 240,000 lb, GVW, a side force-to-mass ratio of 1.0 and an energy-to-mass ratio of 6.0 appear to be adequate criteria to protect an operator in the event of a 540 deg rollover. For smaller machines, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1040 performance criteria provide adequate protection. Longitudinal loading, though not addressed in previous ROPS performance criteria, was shown to be a potentially significant factor in ROPS failure. Longitudinal loading and energy criteria equal to 80 pct of side loading criteria are recommended.

• Research Organization: Bureau of Mines, Washington, DC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6777991
• Report Number(s): PB-90-265448/XAB; BUMINES-IC--9209
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012020 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Surface Mining-- (1987-)
016000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Health & Safety
COAL MINERS
COAL MINING
DYNAMIC LOADS
ENGINEERING
EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT PROTECTION DEVICES
FABRICATION
HAULAGE EQUIPMENT
LOADERS
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
MATERIALS WORKING
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEASURING METHODS
MINERS
MINING
MINING EQUIPMENT
MOTION
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PERSONNEL
PHOTOGRAPHY
RECOMMENDATIONS
ROLLING
ROTATION
SAFETY
SAFETY ENGINEERING
STATIC LOADS
STRESS ANALYSIS
SURFACE MINING
TESTING
US BUREAU OF MINES
US DOI
US ORGANIZATIONS
WEIGHT