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Improving Log Loading Efficiency for Improved Sustainable Transport within the Irish Forest and Biomass Sector
Date Issued
2015-03-12
Date Available
2015-04-01T12:32:41Z
Abstract
In Ireland, timber and biomass haulage faces the challenge of transporting enough material within strict legal dimensions and gross vehicle weights restrictions for trucks and trailers. The objective of this study was to develop a method to control payload weight by knowing the moisture content of the wood. Weights, volumes, and moisture content were gathered from 100 truckloads of Sitka spruce pulpwood. Truck volume and weight utilization patterns were analyzed based on stacked volume, truck volume, and weights recorded from the weighbridge. Solid/bulk volume conversion factors for the truckloads were estimated indicating the truck’s solid volume capacity to be filled. Trucks were grouped into five conditions based on their configuration—volume capacity and legal maximum payload. A loaded volume fraction was estimated to assess the optimal volume capacity and stanchion height at which the trucks should be loaded. Results showed that 100% of the trucks presented volume underutilization, with a maximum of 27.5 m3 (only 39.85% volume capacity). In contrast, 67% of trucks were overweight while the remaining 33% were under the legal maximum weight. The average solid/bulk volume conversion factor was 0.66 ± 0.013 at 95% confidence level. Depending on the conditions, trucks can be filled to 100% of their volume capacity with wood at an MC from 29% to 55%. The minimum truck volume capacity utilization was 45%. This methodology can be used by truck hauliers, enabling them to determine in-forest the optimum volume and weight of wood to be transported by knowing the moisture content (MC), the wood specie, and using the height of the stanchions of the trailer as reference when loading the truck.
Sponsorship
Science Foundation Ireland
Other Sponsorship
CoFoRD Forest Energy Programme 2008/RD (National Council for Forest Research and Development in Ireland)
Charles Parsons Energy Research Program
Type of Material
Journal Article
Publisher
MDPI
Journal
Sustainability Journal
Volume
7
Issue
3
Start Page
3017
End Page
3030
Language
English
Status of Item
Peer reviewed
This item is made available under a Creative Commons License
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Mar 28, 2024
Mar 28, 2024
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