STABLITY OF TOWER CRANE

APPLICATION

STATICS, MEE205

Faculty of Engineering at Al Maaref University

By

Rida_Zein Al-Abideen_Hijazi, 10118016

Ali_Mohammad _Nahle, 10118053

Karrar_Abdel-Azim_Hijazi, 10118012
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents ........................................................................................................ ii

1. Introduction ..............................................................................................................1

1.1. defenition of cranes ...........................................................................................1

1.2. How does a Crane work? ..................................................................................1

1.3. Some Types of cranes .......................................................................................1

2. Tower crane Design and stability ...........................................................................5

2.1. Tower Crane......................................................................................................5

2.2. tower crane structure design .............................................................................5

2.3. calculation of Stability (Objective) ...................................................................9

3. data and Results .....................................................................................................11

4. Conclusion ..............................................................................................................13

References ...................................................................................................................14

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 1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. DEFENITION OF CRANES

The crane has been part of the working landscape since its invention in ancient
Greece. Cranes are essential for heavy construction work and lifting tasks of all kinds.
Equipped with cables and pulleys and based upon the application of fundamental
mechanical principles, a crane can lift and lower loads well beyond the capabilities of
human construction workers. [1]
1.2. HOW DOES A CRANE WORK?

To operate efficiently and maintain its vital stability, every type of crane must obey
the laws of physics. The two most important considerations in this respect are that the
crane must not move weights which exceed its rated capacity, and that any stressful
movements occurring beyond each machine’s designated plane of operation should be
eliminated wherever possible. How does it work? A crane is able to lift objects
because the load is offset by counterweights which stabilize the crane, allowing it to
lift and move its load.

1.3. SOME TYPES OF CRANES

 Mobile Cranes

Mobile cranes are commonly mounted on wheeled vehicles, but cranes used

for railway work are adapted to travel on rail tracks, and various floating cranes can

be attached to barges when used for construction work on bridges and waterways.

Many types of crane are mobile, including Mobile Tower Cranes. Different types of

crane serve a temporary purpose, and a mobile crane may be little more than a robust

steel boom fitted to a transportable platform. The lifting arm is typically hinged to

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allow it to be hoisted and lowered as required. This is usually achieved by cable

systems or hydraulic mechanisms, and the whole mobile structure can be fitted with

outriggers to provide further stability during on-site operations.

Figure 1: Mobile Crane

 Telescopic cranes

Driven by a hydraulic mechanism, a telescopic crane features a set of concentric

tubular steel booms which can be easily extended and retracted to alter the operational

height of the crane.

Usually mobile, these adaptable cranes are compact units which perform effectively

where space is at a premium. Telescopic cranes are widely used, including by rescue

services, and to perform tasks such as launching and retrieving boats at the waterside.

Figure 2: Telescopic Crane

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 Tower Crane

The tower crane is a form of balance crane which is commonly used on urban

construction sites. This machine is anchored to the ground and provides an optimum

blend of height and lifting capability which is often deployed to erect multi-story city

buildings.

Two horizontal arms jut from a central tower, with one used to suspend the heavy

loads to be lifted, and the other fitted with heavy concrete blocks as a counter-weight.

A tower crane is controlled by a driver who either sits high above in a small cabin

located at the top of the tower, or else uses a remote control system to operate his

machine from the ground.

Figure 3: Tower Crane

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 Gantry Crane

Using a hoist installed in a fixed machinery housing, or otherwise able to slide along a

rail framework, this crane employs a strong overhead gantry to lift and maneuver

extremely heavy industrial loads.

Gantry cranes and other so-called ‘overhead’ cranes – which also carry suspended

loads in similar fashion – are widely used in factories and shipyards and similar

commercial locations where their robust qualities make them essential equipment.

Figure 4: Gantry Crane

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 2. TOWER CRANE DESIGN AND STABILITY

2.1. TOWER CRANE

Tower cranes are a common fixture at any major construction site. They’re

pretty hard to miss they often rise hundreds of feet into the air, and can reach

out just as far as the constructions need. The construction crew uses the

tower crane to lift steel, concrete, large tools - like acetylene torches and

generators, and a wide variety of other building materials. [2]

2.2. TOWER CRANE STRUCTURE DESIGN

The design of a tower crane consists of the following parts:

 The base of the crane shown in figure 5, its role is to support the tower crane. [3]

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Figure 5: Base of the Crane
 The slewing unit as shown in figure 6, it is a large ring gear and motor, its role is

to rotate the crane (jib).

Figure 6: Slewing unit

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 The jib (boom) as shown in figure 7, it is a mechinery arm that have the counter

weights and holds the load.

Figure 7: Jib (machinery arm)

 The operation cab as shown in figure 8, it is control center for operators of heavy

equipment, designed for comfortable operation and high visibility.

Figure 8: Operation cab

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Figure 9: All parts of the tower crane

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2.3. CALCULATION OF STABILITY (OBJECTIVE)

The aim of this project is to do calculations on the tower crane to achieve the stability

of the forces and load in the tower cranes, since the structure of the crane should be

properly designed first to withstand static loads, so as we see in the example below,

we took some measurements by applying some laws and rules on the case.

Figure 10: Free Body Diagram of The Tower Crane

Suppose we neglect air flow (since the base is supported to hold such forces) (the

fixed support undergoes through its unknown of reactions which cancel all the effect

of air flow)

𝜀𝑀𝑒𝑥𝑡 = 0 (3.1) Positive direction is clockwise

𝑎𝑚𝑔 − 𝑥𝑀𝑔 = 0 (3.2) [4]

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 Where a is the distance from the tower to load / m is the mass of the load / M is the

mass of counter weight

From the equation (3.2), we can find that x is equal to:

𝑎𝑚𝑔
𝑥= (3.3)
𝑀𝑔

By simplifying g from equation (3.3), we see that x is equal to:

𝑎𝑚
𝑥= (3.4)
𝑀

𝑥𝑀
𝑎= (3.5)
𝑚

So the distance (a) is determined by calculation to achieve the perfect balance of the

Tower Crane and to make sure that we maintain its stability.

Of course taking into consideration the cables holding the weights must be able to

resist the forces due to its directions.

Free Body Diagram:

∑ 𝐹𝑒𝑥𝑡 = 0 (3.6) [4]

→ + →= 0 (3.7)
𝑇 𝑊

𝑇 = 𝑊 = 𝑚𝑔 (3.8)

Where T is the tension in (N) / m is mass in (kg) / g is gravity in (N/kg))

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 3. DATA AND RESULTS

We need to determine the distance (a) for applying different load masses (m).

And to obtain the maximum distance (a) in order to know where to put it in the safe

point of the mass according to the crane by having a great stability of the crane. We

do the following calculations for a max boom length of 60(m) and height of 50(m) for

the crane and max load of 15 ton, in order to find the relation between x and a.

The length of the total jib is 60(m) and fixed distance x= 20(m), then

d = amax + x (3.9)

amax = 60 – 20 = 40 (m)

Table 1: Calculation of Distance (a) by Mass Load Variation (m)

x (m) M (kg) m (kg) a (m)

20 5000 2500 40
1

20 5000 5000 20
2

20 5000 10000 10
3

20 5000 15000 6.666

4

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The data and by the help of calculations we are able to know that the crane that has a

total jib of 60 (m) and a support mass of 5 ton, can hold less than 2.5 ton at a max

distance of a= 40 (m).

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4. CONCLUSION

As a conclusion, in order to obtain stability of the tower crane, the load at

distance at a= 40 (m) must not be less than 2,500 kg otherwise the system will fail,

since the moment created by counter jib (M) and distance x is 100,000 N.m..

Although, each crane has its own properties by its height, the jib lengths, the machine

used, and the material and elasticity of cables used to obtain stability and to hold all

the load system.

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 REFERENCES

[1] https://brynthomascranes.com/cranes-guide/#what-is-a-crane
[2] https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/tower-crane.htm
[3] https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/how-tower-cranes-work-2472-0437-
1000133-98412.html
[4] Chapter 4 Force Resultant Systems, Russell C. Hibbeler - Engineering Mechanics_
Statics-Pearson (2015)

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