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The objective of this study was to analyze a stability of sideways overturning of a forwarder developed by the Forestry Research Institute. The stability analysis was conducted using a multibody dynamic analysis program. VisualNastran Desktop. A solid model of the forwarder was constructed and its physical properties such as mass, mass center and mass moment of inertia were determined on 3D CAD modeler of the Solid Edge 8.0. 3D simulations of sideways overturning of the forwarder were also performed on the Visual Nastran using the solid model when it traveled across the slope and traversed over an up-hill side obstacle. Stability comparison between a bogie-wheeled and a 6-wheeled forwarders was also made and found that the bogie-wheeled forwarder was more stable than the 6-wheeled one on slopes. The safety speeds of the forwarder predicted by the simulation under various conditions can be used as a guideline for safe operations of forwarders in mountainous area. The technique of using a solid model for the sability analysis can also be applied successfully to other vehicles like agricultural tractors, loaders and construction equipments.
