• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.32 no.2 s.121
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• pp.69-76
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• 2007

This study was conducted to evaluate the sideways overturning stability of side loaded mini-forwarder. The model of a prototype was developed using a 3D CAD modeler and the performance was experimentally validated. The prototype model was run on the multibody dynamic analysis program, RecurDyn 6.0, to simulate motions when the model traversed over a circular bump on a inclined ground surface. The simulation was performed at a constant forward speed of 1.85 km/h under the loaded and unloaded conditions. The forward direction was also controlled to vary from 0 to 360 degrees with an increment of 10 degrees. Results of the simulation showed safe regions in which the mini forwarder could travel safely in terms of direction and slope of the ground. Even when the mini-forwarder was loaded by 20 logs of 3.6 m long and 12 cm diameter, it traveled safely within the ground slopes of 1 to 45 degrees by directions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.104 no.1
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• pp.98-103
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• 2015

This study was conducted to analyze the running stability of a semi-crawler type mini-forwarder. The running stability analysis was performed by using a dynamic analysis program, RecurDyn. Physical properties of the semi-crawler type mini-forwarder was performed by using 3D CAD modeler, AutoCAD 3D. As a result from the computer simulation of stationary sideways overturning, it was found that the semi-crawler type mini-forwarder runs safely on a road with a slope not bigger than $20^{\circ}$ regardless whether it is empty or loaded, but in case of a road with a slope bigger than $20^{\circ}$, it is assumed that it is difficult for the car to run safely due to some dangers. In addition, it was found that the critical slope of its sideways overturning gets much smaller when empty since the location of its gravity center is elevated and much higher when it is loaded. As a result from the computer simulation of its hill-climbing ability, since the running speed is unstable in case of a road with a vertical slope not smaller than $28^{\circ}$, it is assumed that it is safe to drive it on a road with a slope not bigger than $28^{\circ}$. Taking a look at the result from an analysis of the running safety when it passes an obstacle, it was observed that a front tire comes off the ground when the running speed of the car is 5 and 4 km per hour respectively when it is empty and loaded while the gravity center of the front tire is watched. When taking a look at the changes in the location of the gravity center of the rear wheel crawler shaft, it was not found that the shaft comes off the ground at the test speeds both when it is empty and loaded.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.100 no.2
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• pp.154-164
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• 2011

This study was conducted to develop the semi-crawler type mini-forwarder that can be operated comfortable small-scale logging operation in the steep terrain and also used at a variety of operations such as the civil work in erosion control and forest-road. Considering the minimum turning radius and the width of forest operation road, the total length, width and loading capacity of the semi-crawler type mini-forwarder is 5,750 mm, 1,900 mm and $2.5m^{3}$, respectively. The maximum engine power is 96ps at 3600 rpm. Selected hydraulic pumps are consists of two main pumps and two sub-main pumps. Main hydraulic pumps are utilized to running motor of the front wheel and rear crawler. Sub-main pumps are utilized to the actuation parts such as steering, crane, out-rigger and dump cylinder. The transmission was adapted as the HST (Hydro-Static Transmission) system. The driving parts are designed and manufactured as the front wheel type and the rear crawler type. The steering type was manufactured as the ackerman type. Driving control parts type was designed and manufactured as driver's seat type of normal cars. It is also attached on auxiliary equipments such as winch, log grapple and out-rigger. The traveling speed of the semi-crawler type mini-forwarder in forest road was 5.3 km/hr to 7.7 km/hr.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.28-33
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• 2006

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2005

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.30 no.6 s.113
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• pp.366-372
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• 2005

The objective of this study was to evaluate the bump crossing and loading stability of a proto-type mini-forwarder under development. The evaluation was performed by computer simulation using a multi-body dynamic analysis program, Recur- Dyn 5.21. The proto-type was modeled and its properties such as mass, mass center, and mass moment of inertia were determined using 3D CAD modeler, Solid Edge 8.0. The $\%$ errors of masses, mass center, mass moment of inertia, and vertical motion of the model were within less than $10\%$ and the model's behavior agreed relatively well with those of the proto-type when traversing over a rectangular bump. Using the validated model, bump crossing of the proto-type was simulated and the loading limit was determined. It was found that effects of the shapes of bump on the bump crossing performance was insignificant within the practical heights of bumps. Stability of bump crossing increased with loading. However, loading of longer logs than 2.7 m made the crossing unstable because the ends of logs contacted ground when traversing over the bump. The maximum loading capacity of the proto-type was estimated to be 7.8 kN of 2.7 m long logs.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.103 no.4
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• pp.583-592
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• 2014

This study was carried out to investigate the operational time and productivity of logging operation by chain saw, yarder attached on tractor, tower-yarder, mini-truck, mini-forwarder, and chipping operations by mini-chipper, large-chipper in order to develop the efficient logging operation system for utilization of forest-biomass. As a result, the average felling and bucking time using chain saw at the site 1 and 2 was observed to be 182.7 sec/cycle and 518.5 sec/cycle respectively. The average yarding time was 202.5 sec/cycle using yarder attached on tractor and 295.1 sec/cycle using tower-yarder. The average forwarding time was 2,073 sec/cycle using mini-truck and 2,248.4 sec/cycle using mini-forwarder. The operational time of felling and bucking using chain-saw can be delayed according to the direction of fallen trees. The selection of felling direction is very important to yarding operation because the direction between width-yarding and felling are interrelated. Productivity can be improved through educating and training operators in the yarding operations. Mini-forwarder is needed to use because of higher productivity and lower cost than mini-truck. The operational productivity of felling and bucking by chain saw was $66.96m^3/man{\cdot}day$ and $43.86m^3/man{\cdot}day$ at site 1 and 2 respectively. The yarding productivity was $5.68m^3/man{\cdot}day$ by yarder attached on tractor, $10.74m^3/man{\cdot}day$ by tower-yarder. The forwarding productivity was $21.29m^3/man{\cdot}day$ by mini-truck, $28.57m^3/man{\cdot}day$ by mini-forwarder. The chipping productivity was $4.42m^3/man{\cdot}day$ by mini-chipper, $21.87m^3/man{\cdot}day$ by large-chipper.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.104 no.2
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• pp.230-238
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• 2015

This study was analyzed the operational cost of logging and chipping operations in order to develop the efficient logging operation system for the utilization of forest-biomass. Analysis of the operational cost of logging operation systems, the operation system D which include chain saw, tower-yarder, mini-forwarder and truck was calculated the lowest cost to be $68,498Won/m^3$. In the utilization of forest-biomass, the operation system E which include chipping by mini-chipper at the site, forwarding of chips by mini-forwarder, transportation of chips by truck was estimated to be 90,770 Won/Ton. Thus, These results are determined as an effective operating system for logging operation and the utilization of forest-biomass.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.102 no.2
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• pp.229-238
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• 2013

This study was conducted to analyze on the operational cost of logging operations in the whole-tree logging operation system by tower-yarder and swing-yarder, and in the cut-to-length logging operation system by excavator with grapple in order to spread efficient logging operation technique and to establish the logging operation system. In the results of the analysis of operation cost, in case of the whole-tree logging operation system, the operation cost was 2,099 won/$m^3$ in felling by chain saw, 28,286 won/$m^3$ in yarding by tower-yarder, 18,265 won/$m^3$ in yarding by swing-yarder, 18,939 won/$m^3$ in bucking by excavator with grapple and chain saw, 20,484 won/$m^3$ in forwarding and accumulation by wheel type mini-forwarder, 12,701 won/$m^3$ in forwarding and accumulation by excavator with grapple and small forwarding vehicle. In case of the cut-to-length logging operation system, the operation cost was 10,160 won/$m^3$ in felling and bucking by chain saw, 7,567 won/$m^3$ in cut-to-length extraction by excavator with grapple, 6,982 won/$m^3$ in branches and leaves extraction by excavator with grapple, 3,040 won/$m^3$ in the operation road construction by excavator with grapple, 20,484 won/$m^3$ in forwarding and accumulation by wheel type mini-forwarder, 12,701 won/$m^3$ in forwarding and accumulation by excavator with grapple and small forwarding vehicle.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.101 no.3
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• pp.344-355
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• 2012

This study was conducted to analyze on the operational time and productivities of logging operations in whole-tree logging operation system by tower-yarder and swing-yarder, and in cut-to-length logging operation system by excavator with grapple in order to establish the efficient logging operation system and to spread logging operation technique. In the analysis of operational time, in case of whole-tree logging operation system, the felling time was 46.6 sec/cycle by chain saw, the yarding time was 480.6 sec/cycle by tower-yarder, the yarding time was 287.4 sec/cycle by swing-yarder and the bucking time was 155.14 sec/cycle by chain saw. In case of the cut-to-length logging operation system, the felling and bucking time was 225.65 sec/cycle by chain saw, the cut-to-length extraction time was 4,972 sec/cycle by excavator with grapple, the branches and leaves extraction time was 3,143 sec/cycle by excavator with grapple. The forwarding time was 4,688 sec/cycle by wheel type mini-forwarder, the forwarding time was 2,118 sec/cycle by excavator with grapple and small forwarding vehicle. In the analysis of operational productivities, in case of whole-tree logging operation system, the average felling performance was $57.89m^3/day$ by chain saw, the average yarding performance was $20.3m^3/day$ by tower-yarder, $31.55m^3/day$ by swing-yarder respectively, the average bucking performance was $20.3m^3/day$ by chain saw. In case of the cut-to-length logging operation system, the average felling and bucking performance was $11.96m^3/day$ by chain saw, the average cut-to-length extraction performance was $34.75m^3/day$ by excavator with grapple, the average branches and leaves extraction performance was $37.66m^3/day$ by excavator with grapple, the average length of operation road construction was 73.8 m/day by excavator with grapple. The average forwarding performance by wheel type mini-forwarder and the average forwarding performance by excavator with grapple and small forwarding vehicle was $15.73m^3/day$ and $65.03m^3/day$, respectively.