Performance Analysis of a Harvester during Timber Extraction Activities in Bursa, Turkey

Year 2018, , 7 - 12, 12.06.2018

Ebru Bilici , Dalia Abbas

https://doi.org/10.33904/ejfe.426171

Abstract

In Turkey, the use of mechanized harvesting technology in forestry has recently
increased due to demands of private forest industry for large
amounts of woods. In order to implement these systems
effectively and efficiently, their applications should be well planned considering
the factors that affect the performance of harvesting equipment. Performances
of the mechanized harvesting systems are mainly influenced by factors such as
tree size, tree formations, terrain conditions, operator motivation and skills.
In this study, a single-grip harvesting operation was evaluated by using time
and motion study analysis. Also, the main factors that affect harvesting
operation were evaluated using statistical analysis. The study was implemented
during a clear-cut operation in Brutian pine (Pinus brutia) stands located in Osmangazi Forest Enterprise
Directorate in the city of Bursa, Turkey. Three stages of harvesting operation
were evaluated; harvester moving to the trees, grabbing and felling trees, and
processing (i.e. delimbing and bucking) trees. The average time of the work
stages was examined, and the results indicated that most of the time was spent
on tree processing. The productivity of the harvesting operation was found to be 24 m³/hr ranging
between 6 m³/hr to 57 m³/hr. This productivity was mostly
affected by the tree size, which
directly influenced the total processing time of the felled trees in the study
area. According to the statistical analysis results, it was found that there is
a significant relationship between tree volume and the time spent on tree processing
stage. The results from this study cannot be generalized but it suggests that
mechanized harvesting using a harvester should be well planned ahead taking
into considering the volume and size of the felled material in order to operate
the harvester with optimal efficiency. Optimum machines and configurations should
be selected based on machine specifications and stand characteristics.    

Keywords

Mechanized harvesting, harvester, time and motion study, productivity

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