Best practice of crane support structures design : an expert survey

[摘要] Research on cranes and crane support structures has been completed at Stellenbosch University'sStructural Division. In order to link the research already completed with that which is practicallyrelevant, an industry related expert survey was proposed. Consequently, the research title is 'BestPractice of Crane Support Structures Design – An Expert Survey.The primary objective of the study is to complete research, which can be used at a later stage tocompile a 'best practice guideline for support structures design. The expert survey allowspractical experience and opinion to be gathered from experts. The primary drawback being theuncertainty involved in such opinionated research material. For this reason an attempt is made inthe thesis to apply a scientific approach, in order to attain rationally defendable results.The survey was conducted using interviews with experienced crane support structure designers andcrane manufacturers in South Africa. The experts were then rated according to their answers toseeded questions, the number of colleague recommendations they each received and the years ofexperience each expert has. The expert opinion was subsequently combined using the expertratings as weights. To further improve the scientific rationale behind the results, several of thetopics mentioned by the experts were verified using related literature - thereby validating the use ofthe combined expert opinion for this research.The results obtained from the survey and verification process are regarded as useful to theobjectives of the study. Information concerning pre-design specifications, loads and actions,structural analysis, design, design details and fatigue was compiled. The direct results are tabulatedin an appendix and commentary, based on the expert opinions, is provided.A failure investigation was also completed with less success than initially intended. This was due,in part, to confidentiality issues and a lack of failure information easily accessible to the experts.For this reason the results of the failure investigation focuses more on various failure mechanisms. The success of the survey indicates that expert opinion is a useful tool for research. Furthermore,the minor differences in expert opinion, when compared to information obtained from crane supportstructure literature, indicates that the expertise in the South African crane support structure design isat an international standard.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University