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Design and Performance Evaluation of Lightweight Rollover Protective Structure for Self-Propelled Agricultural Machinery

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  2026 ASABE Annual International Meeting  2600316.(doi:10.13031/aim.202600316)
Authors:   Eyerusalem Tesfay Gereziher, -, Davide Gattamelata, Dr, Pierluigi Rossi, Dr, Massimo Cecchini, Dr, Mario Fargnoli, Prof., Domenico Pessina, Prof., Giovanni Carabin, Prof., Elisa Cioccolo, Dr., Daniele Puri, Dr.
Keywords:   ROPS, lightweight structures, agricultural machinery, safety, finite element analysis.

Abstract. Compact self-propelled agricultural and grounds-maintenance machines are increasingly used in horticulture, nurseries, and green infrastructure applications. Due to their reduced dimensions and operating characteristics, the integration of rollover protective structures (ROPS) requires lightweight and structurally efficient solutions. This study presents a performance-based approach for the design of lightweight rollover protective structures (LW-ROPS) for compact agricultural machinery. Two structural configurations, based on aluminum members with localized steel reinforcement and steel-core solutions, were evaluated through finite element analysis. The results demonstrate that both configurations satisfy structural safety requirements while reducing overall mass and maintaining adequate energy absorption capability. The proposed approach provides useful guidance for the development of lightweight protective structures for compact self-propelled agricultural machinery.

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