St. Louis, Missouri – Accella Tire Fill Systems has carried out an in-depth field study into the impact of solid shock.
This is the G-force vibration arising from the use of solid tyres on off-the-road vehicles. It can injure operators and cause premature wear on the equipment.
In conjunction with the Transportation Research Center, the G-force transmissions of solid aperture and polyurethane-filled pneumatic tyres were compared in two field trials.
In one, a number of accelerometers were placed on each axle of a wheel loader to measure acceleration in the x, y and z axes, and a triaxial accelerometer at the base of the driver’s seat, before runs over various courses at 5 and 8 mph (8-13 km/h). Pneumatic tyres filled with Accella’s TyrFil polyurethane flatproofing solution translated 36% less equipment stress and 41% less adverse whole body vibration effects to operators than the solid tyres, Accella said.
A second study measured total vibration and whole body vibration levels on a Telehandler at a test track facility designed to replicate typical construction site conditions. Again, there was less impact with the filled tyres than the solid tyres.
The company has also launched an industry-facing campaign, No More Solid Shock. Its aim is to help prevent the negative impacts of solid shock on operators and equipment.