MHCL 2024 conference

Section: Hoisting and Conveying Equipment and Technologies
Abstract: A moveable counterweight can change the gravitational center of a crawler crane to keep the crane in balance as it moves heavy payloads. However, if the counterweight is moved to the wrong position, or if it is moved at the wrong time, then it will cause the crane to tip over in a catastrophic accident. Therefore, studying the stability of such machines is extremely crucial to ensure safe and efficient performance. This paper investigates the tip-over stability of a crawler crane with a moveable counterweight. In order to find suitable positions for the counterweight, the sum of moments of all static forces acting on the crane body parts is calculated about the forward and backward tip-over axes. The minimum and maximum safe positions of the counterweight are determined for different combinations of crane parameters.

Sima Rishmawi
Graduate Research Assistant
Georgia Institute of Technology
Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering

William Singhose
Professor
Georgia Institute of Technology
Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering