Sustainable logging process by a forwarder with an innovative hydro-pneumatic suspension

Forest machines enable a fast and save way to harvest the sustainable product wood. Especially forwarders have a huge impact on the forest site, as they have high wheel loads combined with frequent crossings. To enable a sustainable logging process, a new hydro-pneumatic suspended bogie axle is developed. In this paper, the suspended axle is evaluated and compared simulative to a standard in-market bogie axle without any suspension. Therefore, a simulation model of a forwarder with suspended bogie axles was built based on a validated model of an in-market forwarder. Both simulation models were driven over a skid road and a forest road. Dynamic wheel forces can be reduced with the suspended system up to 40 %. The maximum amplitude of vertical accelerations is reduced significantly with the hydro-pneumatic suspension up to one-third of the standard bogie. Furthermore, there is no significant Eigen frequency of the developed system compared to the reference system. As a result, not only soil damage can be reduced but also the working conditions of the operator can be improved with hydro-pneumatic suspended bogie axles.