0023-6152

AA00697606

1955405

Tractor rollover accidents occur more frequently when tractors operate on uneven, sloping terrain. Previous studies reveal the comprehensive coupled effect of slope angle and terrain roughness on tractor stability by establishing dynamic models. However, the potential mechanism and relation are still unclear and further attention is needed. In this study, we updated a previously developed experimental scale–model system by including more road roughness classes, and conducting experiments with 56 combinations of the two effects. The results revealed that the rear axle of the tractor is more greatly affected by increased slope angle and road roughness than is the front axle. Weakening either one of these effects can reduce the risk of rollover. Furthermore, a slope angle of 30º may be the upper limit for stable tractor operation on a slope. Besides, the result shows that for the front axle, the degree of road class makes greater influence on its stability than slope angle while there is an opposite conclusion for the rear axle. The methods and findings of this work could provide engineers a reference for designing tractors with higher stability and provide operators criteria for avoiding rollover.