Tower Crane Foundations
Tower Crane Foundations
(OP)
Hello,
I've seen some tower cranes spring up lately very quickly. I never been on a site that uses tower cranes and I'm curious how these are anchored into the ground. They always carry fairly heavy loads and they seem to be installed almost overnight.
What type of foundation system do they have for these temporary tower cranes?
Peace,
NB
I've seen some tower cranes spring up lately very quickly. I never been on a site that uses tower cranes and I'm curious how these are anchored into the ground. They always carry fairly heavy loads and they seem to be installed almost overnight.
What type of foundation system do they have for these temporary tower cranes?
Peace,
NB





RE: Tower Crane Foundations
I would suppose the foundation is designed for the elevator loads or for the greatest load the crane will be required to lift during construction.
Recently, several of these have collapsed so I expect both deign and inspection practices are under review.....probably by very expensive Lawyers.
RE: Tower Crane Foundations
RE: Tower Crane Foundations
http://science.howstuffworks.com/tower-crane3.htm
RE: Tower Crane Foundations
RE: Tower Crane Foundations
RE: Tower Crane Foundations
When I was just out of college I was working on a job site and I was standing about 15-20' from the crane (a regular treaded crane) and one of the cables snapped. It came flying down with tremendous force and landed about 10' away from me. I'm thinking that probably would've killed me. I don't like cranes.
NB
RE: Tower Crane Foundations
Of course this being the cantilever construction anyone fears, some fall sometimes, typically under wind storms say with gusts of around just 120 km/hour; maybe it is not seven days I saw the last fallen in one of these at the tv.
RE: Tower Crane Foundations
RE: Tower Crane Foundations
High rise buildings or taller structures that exceed the free standing height of a tower crane must be tied-in or fastened to the structure it is building. The crane then exerts lateral forces into the structure. In essence, the tie-ins reduce the crane cantilever and allow the crane to "climb" as the building is constructed.
These cranes really are very safe and have an excellent safety record. Unfortunate incidents in 2007 have unduly called into question the safety record of these cranes. A majority of incidents are a result of poor maintenance, rigging or somebody not doing what they were supposed to be doing.
RE: Tower Crane Foundations
RE: Tower Crane Foundations
You are correct in that moment typically dictates design. These cranes have anywhere from 200 to 500+ kips of vertical load but the overturning moment is on the order of several thousand foot-kips (depending on the make and model we are talking about 10,000+ foot-kips).
RE: Tower Crane Foundations
Tower cranes can freestand up to 270 feet under the hook (and some higher) depending on the crane make and model. Once you get to a certain height you begin tie-ing the crane to the building.
RE: Tower Crane Foundations