J. For. Sci., 2025, 71(2):86-98 | DOI: 10.17221/66/2024-JFS

Dynamic parameters of lowering loads at gradual tree fellingOriginal Paper

Tomáš Kotek ORCID..., Jindřich Neruda ORCID...
Department of Engineering, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic

The lowering of loads at gradual tree felling is the riskiest activity performed by tree climbers. During this activity, great forces emerge and act on the felled tree, while the tree climbers use the tree itself to anchor and secure their stance. This research aims to find out whether certain methods of work or the use of certain rigging for lowering loads exhibit positive features in reducing the forces acting on the anchoring point of the rigging system. The work methodology consists of three operations: (i) the calculation of the coefficient of shear friction for the combination of 4 ropes and 5 lowering devices – altogether 20 combinations; (ii) the mathematical modelling of the maximum forces acting on the lowering loads of known weight; and (iii) the verification of mathematical modelling using a series of measured experiments of lowering loads of known weight. The research results present the calculation of the shear friction coefficient for 20 combinations of rigging rope and lowering devices. The maximum magnitudes of the forces which may act on the upper anchoring point of the rigging system at the known load weight were additionally calculated. A total of 240 force values were measured when a load of 12 kg in weight falls according to a predetermined model situation. The results indicate that the greatest influence on decreasing the impact force generated by the falling load is that of the load attachment, reduced load weight, shortened length of the fall or elongation of the total rope length in the rigging system. The differences in the coefficients of shear friction are apparent in the results of measurements, too.

Keywords: arboriculture; friction; rigging; ropes; tree climbing

Received: August 29, 2024; Revised: November 22, 2024; Accepted: December 5, 2024; Prepublished online: February 18, 2025; Published: February 24, 2025  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Kotek T, Neruda J. Dynamic parameters of lowering loads at gradual tree felling. J. For. Sci. 2025;71(2):86-98. doi: 10.17221/66/2024-JFS.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Ball J., Vosberg S.J., Walsh T. (2010): A review of United States arboricultural operation fatal and nonfatal incidents (2001-2017): Implications for safety training. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry, 45, 67-83. Go to original source...
    2. Bianchini L., Cecchini M., Gallo P., Biocca M. (2020): A survey on rope-based ascending techniques and materials of professional arborists in Italy. Environmental Sciences Proceedings, 3: 23. Go to original source...
    3. Buckley J.P., Sestito J.P., Hunting K.L. (2008): Fatalities in the landscape and horticultural services industry, 1992-2001. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 51: 701-13. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2009): Work-related fatalities associated with tree care operations--United States, 1992-2007. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 58: 389-93. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19390505/
    5. Centrangolo I., Arwade S.R., Kane B. (2018): An investigation of branch stresses induced by arboricultural operations. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 30: 124-131. Go to original source...
    6. Detter A., Cowell C., McKeown L., Howard P. (2008): Evaluation of Current Rigging and Dismantling Practices Used in Arboriculture. RR668 Research Report. Norwich, Health and Safety Executive and the Forestry Commission: 363.
    7. Donzelli P.S. (1999): Comparison of the frictional properties of several popular arborist blocks. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry, 25: 61-68. Go to original source...
    8. Donzelli P.S., Lilly S. (2001): The Art and Science of Practical Rigging. Champaign, International Society of Arboriculture: 162.
    9. Kane B. (2017): Forces generated in rigging trees with single and co-dominant stems. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 24: 14-18. Go to original source...
    10. Kane B. (2021): Forces and motion associated with arboricultural climbing. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 57: 126944. Go to original source...
    11. Kane B., Brena S., Autio W. (2009): Forces and stresses generated during rigging operations. Journal of Arboriculture, 35: 68-74. Go to original source...
    12. Klein R.W., Koeser A.K., Hauer R.J., Miesbauer J.W., Hansen G., Warner L., Dale A., Watt J. (2021): Assessing the consequences of tree failure. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 65: 127307. Go to original source...
    13. Konyukhov A., Schweizerhof K. (2013): Frictional interaction of a spiral rope and a cylinder-3D-generalization of the Euler-Eytelwein formula considering pitch. In: Pfeiffer F., Wriggers P. (eds): Computational Contact Mechanics: Geometrically Exact Theory for Arbitrary Shaped Bodies. Heidelberg, Springer: 413-422. Go to original source...
    14. Lant R. (2019): Pracovní úrazovost v lesním hospodářství. Bezpečnost a hygiena práce, 69: 8-11. (in Czech)
    15. Lim J., Kane B., Bloniarz D. (2020): Arboriculture safety standards: Consistent trends. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 53: 126736. Go to original source...
    16. Longo D., Caruso L., Conti A., Camillieri D., Schillaci G. (2013): A survey of safety issues in tree-climbing applications for forestry management. Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 44: 702-704. Go to original source...
    17. McLaren A.J. (2006): Design and performance of ropes for climbing and sailing. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part L: Journal of Materials: Design and Applications, 220: 1-12. Go to original source...
    18. Pavier M. (1998): Experimental and theoretical simulations of climbing falls. Sports Engineering, 1: 79-91. Go to original source...
    19. Robb W., Cocking J. (2014): Review of European chainsaw fatalities, accidents and trends. Arboricultural Journal: The International Journal of Urban Forestry, 36: 103-126. Go to original source...
    20. Staněk L., Augustin O., Neruda J. (2022): Analysis of occupational accidents in tree climbers. Forests, 13: 1518. Go to original source...
    21. Staněk L., Neruda J., Nevrkla P. (2023): The magnitude of fatigue recorded in individual body parts of chainsaw operators after work. Forests, 14: 2023. Go to original source...
    22. Ulrich R., Neruda J., Nevrkla P., Flora M. (2020): Těžba a vyvážení dřevin na ochranných pásmech železničních tratí harvestorovou technologií. Brno, Mendel University in Brno: 98. (in Czech)
    23. Wiatrowski W.J. (2005): Fatalities in the Ornamental Shrub and Tree Services Industry. Washington, DC, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: 7.

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY NC 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content