During standstill, static loads in the form of self-weight are acting on the four-rotor rake chassis. Moreover, while operating or the machine is transported, it is subjected to dynamical loads from operating environment. Sufficient strength of the machine chassis must be ensured, as it represents the base of the four-rotor rake. Numerical structural analyses were performed to validate the structural suitability of the current chassis. The complete chassis of the rake was included in the analyses. Different stress states the machine can assume, were analysed. Strain data were recorded on two locations of the machine chassis for further comparison of measurement and simulation results. For mechanically induced strain measurement, we placed strain rosettes on the measuring points. Critical locations on the machine chassis were pointed out upon examining the structural analyses results. Structural changes, which should increase the durability at critical locations, were proposed. Satisfactory correspondence of measurement and simulation results on measuring point 1 and very high uniformity of the results on measuring point 2, confirm the numerical structural analyses were carried out correctly.
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