IJSRD - International Journal for Scientific Research & Development| Vol.

3, Issue 04, 2015 | ISSN (online): 2321-0613

Jib Crane Analysis using FEM

S. S. Kiranalli1 N.U. Patil2
1,2
Department of Mechanical Engineering
1,2
Trinity Polytechnic, Pune
Abstract This work deals with the analysis of Free of cranes (8-15). It is believed from the study of literature
Standing Jib Crane using Finite Element Method. Modeling that, computer automated access to above standards with
of the parts is done using Finite Element based software pre-loaded interpretation and guidance rules increase speed
ANSYS. Initially two-dimensional analysis of simple beam and reliability of the design procedures and increase
and simple column is done to check the suitability of type of efficiency of the crane designers.
element in three dimensional analysis. Besides, comparison In view of above, in the present work we have tried
of the results of these simple Finite Element models is done to demonstrate to modify the dimension of web thickness
using the analytical solutions to ensure that mesh density and web height to decrease the deformation and stress
used for the analysis gives correct results. Then analysis of induced in the boom, for same capacity of loading.
complete jib crane is carried out using two-dimensional
model. Further, the results obtained are used for the
validation of the three-dimensional model. 8 Node Brick 45
(SOLID45) elements are used for meshing of three-
dimensional model. For loading, various factors such as
trolley weight and dynamic factor are taken into
consideration. The trolley weight considered is 15% of the
rated capacity of the crane. For impact loading, dynamic
factor is taken into account. The value of dynamic factor is
25% of the rated capacity of crane. Thus crane is analyzed at
a total factor of 1.4 of the capacity of the crane. During the
post-processing maximum deformation & Von Mises
Stresses are observed. Effect of various parameters like web Fig. 1: Main Parts of Free Standing Jib Crane
thickness, web height and load is studied systematically.
Key words: Jib crane, web thickness, web height, FEM II. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS OF JIB CRANES
and ANSYS As discussed earlier design features of cranes vary widely
according to their major operational specifications. The
I. INTRODUCTION design factor for the stresses in the crane is based on the
Jib crane, a type of crane where a horizontal member (jib or capacity plus 25% of the rated load for impact and 15% of
boom) is supporting and moveable hoist, a key element of the rated load for the weight of the hoist and trolley.
hoisting mechanism as an integral part of the machine. A Generally, this is used all along with the average yield stress
typical jib crane consists of a top beam which is rotating of the material to find out the type of the design. This design
around a fixed column. This configuration may be referred provides a margin to allow for variations in material
to as an L-shaped structure. The top beam is attached to the properties, operating conditions, and design assumptions.
column at two points, directly on top and with down No crane should be supposed to ever, in any circumstance,
support. The trolley, with the hoist and payload, is moving be weighted beyond its rated capability.
along the top beam.
It is helpful for providing a heavy lifting facility III. ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
covering virtually the whole area of the industry such as An existing jib crane from Industries is taken for the
shipyards, factories, nuclear installations and high-building analysis. The details of the same are as below in Table No. I
constructions. Cranes, whether fixed or mobile are driven and Table No II.
manually or by power. Also, their design features vary The analysis will be done for static condition. For
widely according to their major operational specifications the sake of convenience load is applied at the end of the
such as type of motion of the crane structure, weight, type of beam. Effect of various parameters, like web thickness, web
the load, location of the crane, geometric features, operating height, and load will be studied during the analysis. Also tie
regimes and environmental conditions. Since the crane rod will be used for the further part of analysis & effect of
design procedures are highly standardized with these cross sectional area of tie rod will be seen. Deflection &
components, most effort and time are spent on interpreting Von Mises stresses will be observed throughout the analysis.
and implementing the available design standards (1, 2).
Various international or national standards and rules e.g. BS
357, AISE Standard No.6, CMAA No.70, JIS B8801, DIN-
Taschenbuch 44, FEM Rules are available to guide the crane
designers which offer design methods and empirical
approaches and formulae that are based on previous design
experiences and widely accepted design procedures (3-7).
Many reports are available on the structural and component
stresses, safety under static loading and dynamic behaviour

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 Jib Crane Analysis using FEM
(IJSRD/Vol. 3/Issue 04/2015/049)

C) Analysis of Cantilever Beam With Self-Weight & Load at

The End
Total deflection at (Deflection due to load only) +
free end (Deflection due to self-weight only)
Hence,
Total deflection = 2.8912 + 0.31877 = 3.20977 mm (1.4)
D) Analysis of Column (Mast) Only
Mast is also analyzed for some arbitrary value of load. This
arbitrary value is 1000 N.
PxL
=
AxE
Table 1: Specifications of Jib Crane Considered In Present Here is deflection of column.
Work P = applied force.
L = length of the column or mast.
A = cross sectional area of column
E = Youngs modulus of the material of column
1000x3000
=
2691.73x 2.1x105
Table 2: Properties of Strucutred Steel = 0.0053 mm (1.4)
A) Analysis of Only Cantilever Beam Considering Load at
Free End IV. FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS APPLIED TO JIB CRANE
Analytically the deflection at the end of the cantilever beam Load Condition & Boundary Condition are used as in Table
is calculated as below. No. III
Boundary Condition: The beam is constrained at
wxl 3
= left end for all degrees of freedom. i.e. rotary &
3ExI linear are constrained.
Where, Load Condition: Load is applied at the right end.
= deflection at the free end of beam Sr Nature of
w= Load applied = Rated capacity x Design Factor Parameters Values
No Parameters
= 1112.454 x 1.4 = 1557.43 N Length of Beam 2440 mm
L = Length of beam Area of Cross
E = Youngs modulus of the material of the beam 2440.6 mm2
Geometric section of Beam
I = Area moment of Inertia of beam about an axis passing 1
Parameters Area Moment of
through its center of gravity 1242.09x104mm4
Inertia of Beam
= 1557.43x 24403 Height of Beam 175 mm
3 x 2.1x10 5 x1242.09x10 4 Loading
2 Force 1557.43 N
= 2.8912 mm (1.1) Parameters
Deflection due to load at the end = 2.8912mm Youngs
Material 2.1x 105 N/mm2
3 Modulus
B) Analysis of Cantilever Beam Considering Only Self- Properties
Poissons Ratio 0.3
Weight The length of element is taken as 100 mm. Figure
Analytically the deflection at the end of the beam is No 2. Shows the discretized model.
calculated as below.
Deflection due to self-weight is calculated by
following formula.
wxl 4
=
8 xExI
In the above formula, w is weight per unit of beam.
Considering the density of material, its value is (19.13 x
9.81) N/m
19.13x9.81x 2.444
=
8 x 2.1x105 x106 x1242.09x108 Fig. 2: Model With Load Condition & Boundary Condition
= 0.00031877 m = 0.31877 mm (1.2)
Deflection due to self-weight only = 0.31877 mm

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 Jib Crane Analysis using FEM
(IJSRD/Vol. 3/Issue 04/2015/049)

A. Deflection At Free End

Fig. 5: Deformation of Column (Mast)

Fig. 3: Deflection At Free End
The deflection at the free end obtained by Finite Element
based software ANSYS is 2.891 mm. The same is seen in
the figure No 3.
Ansys= 2.891 mm
Observing the analytical & Finite Element analysis
values it can be said that the type of element & mesh density
used for above analysis is correct. The maximum stress for
the above case is also observed in the post processing.
B. Maximum Stress Is Also Observed In The Post
Processing. The Same Is Shown Figure No 4.

Fig. 6: Three Dimensional Model of the Jib Crane

Fig.4. Maximum Stress Is Observed In The Post Processing

Is Shown.
Maximum Stress (Direct + Bending) = 30.707MPa (1.5)
C. Finite Element Analysis of Column Only
Sr Nature of
Parameters Values
No Parameters
Height of Column 3000 mm Fig. 7: Loads Applied At The End Of Beam of Jib Crane
Area of Cross 2691.73
Geometric
1 section of Column mm2
Parameters
Area Moment of 613.93 x
Inertia of Column 104 mm4
Loading
2 Force 1557.43 N
Parameters
2.1x 105
Material Youngs Modulus
3 N/mm2
Properties
Poissons Ratio 0.3
Table 4: Input Parameters For Analysis of Column (Mast)
D. Load condition & Boundary condition are used as in
Table No. 4.
Load condition: Load applied is a tensile force of Fig. 8: Deformation of Jib Crane
1000 N. During the post-processing Von Mises Stresses are
Boundary condition: All motions of the bottom end also observed. The maximum value of Von Mises Stress is
are constrained 108.849 MPa. Figure No. 9. shows Von Mises stresses at

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 Jib Crane Analysis using FEM
(IJSRD/Vol. 3/Issue 04/2015/049)

various locations on the jib crane. Location of this high B. During the Study, Web Height Is Varied & Its Effect On
stress region is at the left end of the beam near the top edge The Stresses & Deformation Is Observed.
of the column or mast. As beam is fixed here, there will be
almost no deformation & hence stresses will be higher Max. Stress
Sr. Web height Max. Deformation
whereas at free end of the beam, highest deformation will be (MPa)
No. (mm) (mm)
there leading to lowest stress. Von Mises
1 147 34.601 108.983
2 152 34.549 108.821
3 157 34.454 108.849
4 162 34.258 107.084
5 167 34.192 110.431
Table 6: Effect of Web Height
Here, it is observed that, as the web height
increases, the maximum deformation decreases continuously
as shown in the fig No.11. And effect of varying Web
Height as shown on table No. VI.
C. Even Though, The Cranes Should Not Be Loaded For
More Than Their Capacity, Still Effect Of Overloading On
The Values Of Maximum Deformation & Maximum Von
Mises Stress Is Done.

Fig. 9: Von Mises Stresses In Jib Crane

V. RESULTS
A. During This Study, Variation of Web Thickness Is Done
To Observe Its Effect on the Stresses & Deformation
Web Max. Max. Stress
Sr.
thickness Deformation (MPa)
No.
(mm) (mm) Von Mises
1 4.8 34.858 116.435
2 5.3 34.739 118.363
3 5.8 34.454 108.849
4 6.3 34.5 106.147 Fig. 11: Effect of Web Height on Maximum Deformation
5 6.8 33.882 97.408 Max.
Sr. Load Max.Stress
Table 5: Effect of Web Thickness Deformation
No. (N) (MPa)Von Mises
(mm)
1 1557.43 34.454 108.849
2 1757.43 38.325 121.016
3 1957.43 42.196 133.183
4 2157.43 46.067 145.35
5 2357.43 49.939 157.517
Table 7: Effect of Load On Boom
Effect of varying the Load on Boom at free end
what Maximum Deflection and Stress Induced is shown in
Table No. VII.

Fig. 10: Effect of Web Thickness on Maximum Deformation

From the above graph Fig No. 10, it is seen that as
initially there is increase in the web thickness, there is small
decrease in the maximum deformation of the beam after a
certain value of web thickness, there is slight increase in the
maximum deformation of the beam but afterwards it
decreases at a higher rate. And effect of varying Web
Thickness as shown on Table No. V.

Fig. 12: Effect of Load on Maximum Deformation

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 Jib Crane Analysis using FEM
(IJSRD/Vol. 3/Issue 04/2015/049)

From the above graph Fig No.12., it is seen that [14] Reemsyder, H. S., Demo, D. A.: Fatigue Cracking in
there is straight line relationship between the load & Welded Crane Runway Girders, Causes and Repair
maximum deformation. As load increases, maximum Procedures. Iron and Steel Engineer, Vol.55 (1978),
deformation increases. Effect on varying the Load of Boom No. 4, p. 52.
is shown in Table No VII. [15] Rowswell, J. C., Packer, J. A.: Crane Girder Tie-
Back Connections. Iron and Steel Engineer, Vol.66
VI. CONCLUSION (1989), No. 1, p. 58.
1) The maximum value of Von Mises Stress
30.707MPa is occurred at the junction of at the
left end of the beam near the top edge of the
column or mast.
2) At the free end of the beam, highest deformation
3.20977 mm has occurred leading to lowest
stresses.
3) As the web thickness increases, deformation
decreases but this decrease in not uniform.
4) As the web height increases, the deformation
decreases continuously.

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