Impact of a variety of forestry machine types on soil compaction is evaluated in this study according to the measurement of soil penetration resistance at 0 to 80 cm depth. It is concluded in the study that soils with poor bearing capacity (PBC), comparably small penetration resistance and organic layer thicker than 5 cm are less vulnerable to soil compaction. The use of small-size forwarder Vimek 610 allows to reduce soil compaction to an insignificant level in comparison to the control sites, and most or ruts disappear within a few days in PBC conditions. Whereas John Deere 810E, which belongs to the middle-size class of forwarders, significantly compacts soil through the whole measured depth in similar conditions. Rottne F10B and John Deere 810E forwarders represent the same weight category, and soil compaction due to the use of these machines on soils with moderate bearing capacity (MBC) is similar too; however, on soils with weak (WBC) and good (GBC) conditions results are different, mostly due to a different amount of extracted roundwood in both trials. Tracked forwarder was used only in GBC conditions and the results demonstrated significant compaction only down to 22 cm depth. The trials confirm that the depth of the intensity of impact depends on the weight of the machine and amount of material extracted; however, additional measurement data are necessary to characterize the impact quantitatively in different conditions.

When the measurements of power consumed by cutting mechanism electromotor are made, the mechanical cutting power cannot be obtained, because they are different physical processes. However, determination of electricity power is relatively simpler. Therefore, both powers are determined in the study, in order to evaluate coherence between them. Computer numerical control machine was used for climb-sawing of aspen (Populus tremula L.) wood with a circular saw. Mechanical cutting power was calculated from measurements of cutting force, but the electric ones – from measurements of current and voltage. As a result, changes of both powers and of specific cutting work, on what the analytical calculation of cutting power is based, were obtained depending on length of the cutting trajectory. It is found out, that mechanical cutting power is greater than electric power, and it is useful to use for the analytical calculation, based on determination of the specific cutting work, wear coefficient of the cutter that depends not only on the duration of work of cutter, but also on feed speed and the length of the cutting trajectory.

Tracked forwarders is one of the solutions for the forest soils with poor bearing capacity providing ability to use well-known technology for reasonable cost to improve accessibility of forest resources. Tracked forwarders are not common in forest nowadays and only a few models are produced serially. The ProSilva F2/2 is a new middle-class forwarder, whose frontal tracks are replaced with big tires, ensuring large contact surface, increased mobility of the machine and significantly reduced mass without loosing the load capacity (15 tonnes). The aim of the study was to evaluate productivity, soil impact and cost of the roundwood forwarding using the ProSilva F2/2. The study was conducted in Finland. Productivity (time per crane cycle, split into operations and loads), load size, depth of ruts and soil compaction were estimated during the study. According to the study results, the average productivity is 16 m**3 per hour (driving distance to a landing site 200 m, driving speed 2.8 km hE-1, average load 9.7 m**3). The productivity can be significantly increased by more efficient utilization of the load capacity and by using gripper with the tilt function. The length of ruts on peat soil (56 m haE-1) does not exceed the permitted threshold values in Latvia. The compaction of soil took place mainly in topsoil, no changes in soil density were observed in deeper soil layers. The prime cost of forwarding according to the preliminary estimates is 2.5 € mE-3 if the annual production is at least 62000 m**3. Utilization rate is important to keep forwarding cost low.

Importance of the study is determined by increasing consumption of woody biomass as a renewable energy source. Whole-tree harvesting is commonly applied for bioenergy use, however intensified biomass removal from forests can cause significant nutrient loss in soil. Nutrients can be returned to forest ecosystem by fertilizing soil with wood ash, which is generated as a by-product of combustion in wood-burning power plants and heating plants. Studies on ash spreading technological processes and costs so far have been insufficient. Aim of the study is to compare the productivity and prime cost of ash spreading with modular spreading trailer and Amazone mineral fertilizer spreader. According to study results productivity of modular trailer is 0.57 ha hE-1 and the spreading costs are 88 EUR haE-1, but that of mineral fertilizer spreader Amazone – 0.61 ha hE-1 and 41 EUR haE-1, respectively. Despite lower productivity modular trailer is more suitable for spreading wood ash, because a larger amount can be delivered and ash is applied more evenly. Productivity of modular trailer can be increased by technical improvements, like equipping the tractor with a crane and a small excavator bucket. Comparing costs of ash spreading and deposition, additional 8.72 EUR haE-1 were required, when using modular trailer, whereas, when using mineral fertilizer spreader, 77.52 EUR haE-1 can be saved. The main reason for the difference is smaller dosage when using modular spreader and additional loading costs.

This paper investigates the effect of intake runner design on pressure wave propagation and reflection in sparkignited internal combustion (IC) engine. These events are known to leave a noticeable influence on the overall engine performance therefore the aim of this study is to evaluate how changes in intake runner geometry affect pressure oscillations and volume flow rate. Time-dependent computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was carried out to determine how these changes affect the pressure oscillations during a full engine cycle at constant crankshaft speed. Steady state CFD analysis at constant pressure differential was carried out to evaluate the effect on volume flow rate. The simulations were carried out in SolidWorks Flow Simulation environment. Honda CRF450R motorcycle engine was used to define the initial conditions and basic intake runner design. Intake air speed at port entrance cross-section was calculated based on engine parameters and operating speed. The average pressure values with respect to physical time were measured and graphed across the intake port opening cross-section. Six different intake runner designs were compared. It was concluded that the runner taper angle has influence on pressure wave-length but internal geometry (steps, curvature and taper angle) has influence on volume flow rate. It was observed that cylindrical intake runner design produced an increase in pressure wave-length but a cylindrical section of the intake runner with a stepped transition to tapered extension produced a slight increase in pressure wave amplitude.

This paper investigates the effect of fuel bias between the primary and secondary injectors of a staged fuel injection system on the performance of a high output single cylinder spark-ignited internal combustion engine. It is known that staged fuel injection systems are widely used in motorsports applications where high engine speeds are coupled with high power output, therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of a secondary fuel injector installed on a Honda CRF450R single cylinder four-stroke gasoline engine. The said engine was equipped with a programmable Performance Electronics PE3-SP0 control unit and a secondary fuel injector identical to that of OE. Power measurements were carried out on a Dynojet-200ix chassis dynamometer in four different modes with altered fuel proportion between injectors, with each measurement being repeated three times. Ambient conditions were monitored with Performance Electronics Pe3Monitor software and the fuel map was adjusted to produce a stable air-fuel ratio. The results were averaged and compared numerically and by coefficient of correlation. It was observed that the data as obtained from the chassis dynamometer software SportDyno 4 contains a lot of noise, both mechanical and electrical in nature, and the changes in power output are highly dependent on engine and equipment temperature. The best results were obtained by using both injectors with fuel proportion biased to the front of the system.