Interactive and dynamic integrated module for mobile cranes supporting system design

Analyzing and designing a crane supporting system can be a time-consuming process. In particular, the dynamic nature of mobile crane operations entails a variety of reaction values for truck and crawler cranes. This research presents an algorithm which is designed to assist practitioners in evaluating the elements required in order to calculate the reaction forces and in designing the supporting system for both types of mobile cranes---truck cranes on outriggers and crawler cranes on tracks. The developed algorithm integrates a reaction influence chart, which accounts for the dynamic relationship between the reaction of the outriggers or pressure of the crawler tracks and the boom's horizontal swinging angles and vertical angles. The proposed algorithm has been developed into a computer system, which has been integrated with a previously developed crane selection system and two crane databases. The system has proven to be effective in reducing the time and costs associated with the preparation of lift studies. Two case examples are described in order to demonstrate the use of the presented algorithm.