Analysis of Vibration Characteristics of Single-Axle Tractors with Gasoline and Diesel Engine

Highlights Operators of single-axle tractors are exposed to high levels of hand-arm vibrations. A single-axle tractor with a gasoline engine produces lower vibrations than a tractor with a diesel engine. The daily working time with the single-axle tractor should be limited to protect the operators. If daily vibration exposure is not limited, hand-arm vibration syndrome may occur in a relatively short time. Abstract. Single-axle tractors are often the only source of mechanical power for agricultural activities on small farms, but operators are exposed to high levels of hand-arm vibrations transmitted from the handles. These vibrations can cause hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), which includes vascular, neurological, and musculoskeletal disorders. The aim of this paper was to evaluate and compare the vibrations transmitted to the operator’s hands from the handles of two single-axle tractors (with gasoline and diesel engines). The vibration levels were measured at engine idling mode and at full load during soil tillage. The frequency-weighted acceleration values during soil tillage were 11.76, 2.90, and 6.16 m s-2 for the single-axle tractor with gasoline engine, while the values for the single-axle tractor with diesel engine were 22.47, 6.83, and 7.95 m s-2 in the X-, Y-, and Z-axes, respectively. As expected, significantly lower acceleration values were measured for both tractors at engine idling mode. The daily vibration exposure of the operator of the single-axle tractor with gasoline engine was 9.02 m s-2, and at such exposure, hand-arm vibration syndrome will occur in 10% of the operators after 3.09 years. For the single-axle tractor with a diesel engine, the daily exposure was 16.86 m s-2, and hand-arm vibration syndrome will occur in 10% of the operators after only 1.59 years. The daily working time with a single-axle tractor should be limited to protect the operators, and work schedules should be arranged to include vibration-free periods. Keywords: Ergonomics, Exposure limits, Hand-arm vibrations, IC engine, Single-axle tractor.