Productivity Analysis of Chute System integrated with Portable Winch and Synthetic Rope for Uphill Logging Operation

Year 2017, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 72 - 77, 31.12.2017

Neşe Gülci , Abdullah E. Akay , Orhan Erdaş H. Hulusi Acar

Abstract

Timber
extraction activities are generally conducted by using traditional logging
methods that involve little or no mechanization. In recent decade, plastic
chute systems have been employed as alternative method during timber extraction.
There is an increasing interest in implementing chute system because this
alternative method reduce the value and volume loss of timber and minimize the
total time of logging operation. Even though chute system had been used to
extract small size timber in the early times, it has been employed to transport
large size logs in recent years. In previous studies, chute system was analyzed
during downhill transportation of wood products by gravity force. In this
study, chute system integrated with portable winch was developed to haul large
logs uphill direction. Besides, synthetic tope was used instead of steel rope
in order to reduce weight of the system. The chute system was tested in a harvesting
operation take place in Çınarpınar Forest Enterprise Chief in the border of
Kahramanmaraş Forest Regional Directorate in Turkey. Productivity of the uphill
logging operation was examined for three chute distances (36 m, 48 m, 60 m) at
three ground slope classes (30%, 50%, 70%). The results indicated that the
highest productivity (7.00m³/hr) was reached at the shortest chute
system with 30% slope. The main factors that effect productivity was total time
of winching logs uphill within chute system. It was found that chute system
integrated with portable winch was more economic, practical, and efficient
method comparing with traditional logging methods.

Keywords

Logging, chute system, portable winch, synthetic rope

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