Elasticity of a farm trailer's chassis at different twisting angles

Abstract

It is important to know the behaviours of materials used to design and manufacture farm trailers in the same way as is necessary for all mechanical systems. Fatigue tests for trailers give an idea about the behaviours of its components. Simulators are very useful test systems for applying fatigue tests under laboratory conditions. The aim of this research was to determine the effects of different twisting angles of a trailer chassis on a farm trailer by using a Simulator apparatus. Tests were carried Out in either static or dynamic conditions. The minimum and maximum twisting angles were selected as -10 degrees and +10 degrees for all tests respectively. The farm trailer was twisted for each 2 degrees and the system was stopped to measure the forces for static conditions. Measured forces were used to calculate the twisting moments. The experimental apparatus ran continuously between -10 degrees and +10 degrees and the forces were measured for each 2 degrees under dynamic conditions. The tests were performed at 26 cycles/min for twisting angles of +/- 10 degrees. The energy absorbed through hysteresis by the trailer chassis was calculated as 27 980 Nm. The total energy and the coefficient of absorption ability of the chassis were calculated as 107 849 Nm and 25.9 per cent respectively. The materials of the trailer chassis Must be more elastic than this value according to the literature to absorb vibrations created by the road or field. When the twisting moment of the trailer is smaller, it is possible that the trailer may fall over when going round a bend in the road. Stability requires high twisting moments. The absorption of vibration, however, requires smaller twisting moments.