Rollover stability analysis of a 36.8-kW one-row self-propelled cabbage harvester

Overturning risk and dynamic instability represent major safety concerns for compact selfpropelled harvesters operating on uneven agricultural terrain.This study evaluated the stability characteristics of a 36.8 kW one-row self-propelled cabbage harvester through an integrated approach combining numerical simulation, controlled experimental validation, and field inclination monitoring.The harvester center of gravity was determined in accordance with ISO 789-6, and rollover behavior was analyzed for unloaded and loaded (500 kg) conditions using multibody dynamics simulation software.Simulation results were validated through controlled inclination tests conducted at a certified testing facility.To evaluate dynamic stability in real harvesting operations, digital inclinometers were mounted on the harvesting unit and the main structural frame, and inclination responses were recorded and analyzed in the time domain to characterize longitudinal and lateral behavior.The simulation results indicated that lateral overturning limit angles (30.07 -38.23°) were consistently higher than longitudinal limits (17.94 -27.92°).Adding a 500 kg payload reduced overturning angles by up to 20 -25%, with the largest reductions occurring in the forward and rearward directions.Inclination experiments produced lower absolute overturning angles than the simulations but showed consistent directional trends, supporting the validity of the simulationbased assessment.Field measurements revealed greater longitudinal inclination variability at the harvesting unit (mean = 5.22°; root mean square [RMS] = 7.41°) than at the main structural frame (mean = 7.01°; RMS = 7.91°), whereas lateral inclination responses remained small for both components (RMS < 3.08°).Transient inclination peaks were associated with localized terrain irregularities; however, these events were short in duration and did not indicate sustained dynamic instability.The results demonstrate that payload loading primarily degrades longitudinal stability, while the tracked undercarriage contributes to maintaining lateral stability.The proposed combined evaluation framework provides a practical and reliable method for assessing rollover stability and in-field dynamic behavior of cabbage harvesters under realistic operating conditions.