# Structural Strength Analysis of a Rotary Drum Mower in Transportation Position
## 1 Introduction
Many agricultural enterprises utilise vertical axis mowers for forage harvest operations. By cutting the crop with freely pivoting blades attached to rotating shafts, vertical axis mowers avoid many of the problems associated with reciprocating machinery [5]. The forage crop is unsupported during cutting in all vertical axis rotary mowers, which can be divided into two types: disc and drum. Drum mowers are machines that receive their power from the tractor PTO to cut clover, meadow flowers, grass, and other similar green forage crops with freely rotating blades on the drum before collecting them in a barrel on the field's surface [5; 6; 7]. Therefore, the design evaluation of a drum mower should focus on two important perspectives: harvest mechanism and structural strength. Most especially in a structural strength context, very few studies have been found in the literature that systematically apply experimental and advanced engineering simulation method-based design approaches to the concept of the strength-based design analysis of agricultural harvesters, particularly on rotary drum mowers. In other research involving rotary drum mowers, [PERSON] et al. (2023) conducted a study wherein they presented a numerical simulation and analysis of the airflow field surrounding the cutting apparatus. They employed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applications to facilitate the optimisation of operating parameters in the machine's design procedures [8]. [PERSON] (2022) conducted a research study examining the wear of rotary drum mower blades and the resultant impact on forage productivity. The study revealed that the deterioration of blades or the presence of worn knives may lead to a reduction in PTO power [6]. [PERSON] (2019) conducted an analysis of the dynamics of drum mower blades, primarily focusing on the influence of these forces on blade behaviour. This analysis specifically considered blade oscillations around a stable state, which were found to be contingent upon the properties of the material being cut [9]. [PERSON] and [PERSON] (2015, 2016) have presented both visual and numerical findings derived from stress analyses of the components comprising the harvesting mechanism, specifically focusing on the motion transmission gears and axles within a rotary drum mower, during harvesting operations. These analyses were conducted using both analytical and finite element methods [10; 11]. [PERSON] (1993) initiated a developmental investigation into a rotary counter shear mower and carried out experimental field testing on the resulting physical prototype. It was underlined that the prototype performed satisfactorily with alfalfa and timothy; nevertheless, design enhancements are required for the prototype [12]. In this study, a systematic strength-based design analysis approach was established, and stress analyses were performed through experimental and advanced engineering simulation methods on a sample tractor-attachable harvester (rotary drum mower) during transportation, which was considered to be the worst loading condition, and all related application steps were thoroughly executed.