Directive 2009/75/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (repealed)Show full title

1. HORIZONTAL LOADING AND CRUSHING TESTS

1.1. General provisions for horizontal loading tests

1.1.1. The loads applied to the protection structure shall be distributed by means of a stiff beam, complying with the specifications laid down in point 2.1.2 of Annex II, located normal to the direction of load application; the stiff beam may be equipped with a means of preventing its being displaced sideways. The rate of deflection under loading shall not be greater than 5 mm/s. As the load is applied, the values F and D shall be recorded simultaneously at deflection increments of 15 mm or less, to ensure accuracy. Once the initial application has commenced, the load shall not be reduced until the test has been completed; but it is permitted to cease increasing the load if desired, for example to record measurements.

1.1.2. If the structural member to which the load is to be applied is curved, the specifications laid down in point 2.1.2.5 of Annex II must be complied with. The application of a load must, however, comply with the requirements of point 1.1.1 above and point 2.1.2 of Annex II.

1.1.3. If no structural cross member exists at the point of application, a substitute test beam which does not add strength to the structure may be utilised for the test procedure.

1.1.4. The structure shall be inspected visually when the load is removed after each loading test has been completed. If cracks or tears have occurred during loading, the overload test specified in point 1.4 below shall be carried out before proceeding to the next loading in the sequence given in point 3.1.1.1 of Annex II.

1.2. Longitudinal loading (see figure 2 of Annex IV)

Load application shall be horizontal and parallel to the vertical median plane of the tractor.

For tractors with at least 50 % of their mass, as defined in point 1.3 of Annex II, on the rear wheels, the longitudinal rear load and the lateral load shall be applied on different sides of the median longitudinal plane of the protection structure. For tractors with at least 50 % of their mass on the front wheels, the longitudinal front load shall be on the same side of the median longitudinal plane of the protection structure as the lateral load.

It shall be applied to the uppermost transverse structural member of the protection structure (i.e. the part which would be likely to strike the ground first in an overturning incident).

The point of application of the load shall be located one-sixth of the width of the top of the protection structure inwards from the outside corner. The width of the protection structure shall be taken as the distance between two lines parallel to the vertical median plane of the tractor touching the outside extremities of the protection structure in the horizontal plane touching the top of the uppermost transverse structural members.

The length of the beam shall be not less than one-third of the width of the protection structure (as previously described) and not more than 49 mm greater than this minimum.

The longitudinal loading is applied from the rear or front, as defined in point 3.1.1.1 of Annex II.

The test shall be stopped whenever:

(a)

the strain energy absorbed by the protection structure is equal to or greater than the required energy input E_{il 1} (where E_{il 1} = 1,4 m_t);

(b)

the structure infringes the zone of clearance or leaves the zone of clearance unprotected.

1.3. Loading from the side (see figure 1 of Annex IV)

The loading shall be applied horizontally at 90° to the vertical median plane of the tractor. It shall be applied to the upper extremity of the protection structure at a point 300 mm forward of the seat reference point with the seat in its rearmost position (see point 2.3.1). If the protection structure has any projection on the side which would be certain to contact the ground first during a sideways overturn, the loading shall be applied at that point. In the case of a tractor with a reversible position, the load shall be applied to the upper extremity of the roll-over protection structure half-way between the two seat reference points.

The beam shall be as long as practicable, but no more than 700 mm in length.

The test shall be stopped whenever:

(a)

the strain energy absorbed by the protection structure is equal to or greater than the required energy input E_is (where E_is = 1,75 m_t); or

(b)

the structure infringes the zone of clearance or leaves the zone of clearance unprotected.

1.4. Overload test (see figures 4a, 4b and 4c in Annex IV)

1.4.1. The overload test must be carried out if the force decreases by more than 3 % during the last 5 % of the deflection achieved, where the energy required is absorbed by the structure (see figure 4b).

1.4.2. The overload test involves the gradual increase of the horizontal load by increments of 5 % of the initial energy requirement up to a maximum of 20 % of energy added (see figure 4c).

1.4.2.1. The overload test is satisfactory if, after each increase by 5 %, 10 % or 15 % in the energy required, the force decreases by less than 3 % for a 5 % increment and remains more than 0,8 F_max.

1.4.2.2. The overload test is satisfactory if, after the structure has absorbed 20 % of the added energy, the force exceeds 0,8 F_max.

1.4.2.3. Additional cracks or tears and/or entry into or lack of protection of the zone of clearance due to elastic deformation are permitted during the overload test. However, after the removal of the load, the structure shall not enter the zone of clearance, which shall be completely protected.

1.5. Crushing at the rear

The beam shall be positioned over the rear uppermost structural members and the resultant of crushing forces shall be located in the vertical longitudinal reference plane. A force F_r = 20 m_t shall be applied.

Where the rear part of the protection structure roof will not sustain the full crushing force, the force shall be applied until the roof is deflected to coincide with the plane joining the upper part of the protection structure with that part of the rear of the tractor capable of supporting the vehicle’s mass when overturned. The force shall then be removed, and the tractor or loading force repositioned so that the beam is over that point of the protection structure which would then support the tractor when completely overturned. The force F_r shall then be applied.

The force F_r shall be applied for a minimum of five seconds following the cessation of the visually detectable deflection.

The test shall be stopped if the structure infringes the zone of clearance or leaves the zone of clearance unprotected.

1.6. Crushing at the front

The beam shall be positioned across the front uppermost structural members and the resultant of crushing forces shall be located in the vertical longitudinal reference plane. A force F_f = 20 m_t shall be applied.

Where the front part of the protection structure roof will not sustain the full crushing force, the force shall be applied until the roof is deflected to coincide with the plane joining the upper part of the protection structure with that part of the front of the tractor capable of supporting the vehicle’s mass when overturned. The force shall then be removed, and the tractor or loading force repositioned so that the beam is over that point of the protection structure which would then support the tractor when completely overturned. The force F_f shall then be applied.

The force F_f shall be applied for a minimum of five seconds following the cessation of the visually detectable deflection.

The test shall be stopped if the structure infringes the zone of clearance or leaves the zone of clearance unprotected.

1.7. Second longitudinal loading

Load application shall be horizontal parallel to the vertical median plane of the tractor.

The second longitudinal loading is applied from the rear or front as defined in point 3.1.1.1 of Annex II.

It shall be applied in the opposite direction to and at the corner furthest from the longitudinal loading in point 1.2.

It shall be applied to the uppermost transverse structural member of the protection structure (i.e. that part which would be likely to strike the ground in an overturning incident).

The point of application of the load shall be located one sixth of the width of the top of the protection structure inwards from the outside corner. The width of the protection structure shall be taken as the distance between two lines parallel to the vertical median plane of the tractor touching the outside extremities of the protection structure in the horizontal plane touching the top of the uppermost transverse structural members.

The length of the beam shall be not less than one third of the width of the protection structure (as previously described) and not more than 49 mm more than this minimum.

The test shall be stopped whenever:

(a)

the strain energy absorbed by the structure is equal to or greater than the required energy input E_{il 2} (where E_{il 2} = 0,35 m_t); or

(b)

the structure infringes the zone of clearance or leaves the zone of clearance unprotected.