Can Jib Cranes Survive High Winds?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the operation and safety of jib cranes in high wind conditions, particularly focusing on their ability to withstand strong gusts and the mechanisms that control their movement during such weather. Participants explore the implications of wind on crane stability and operational protocols.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant observes a jib crane rotating in the wind and questions whether it is controlled by a motor or simply moving with the wind.
  • Another participant suggests that cranes are often set into "weathervane" mode during high winds to prevent damage.
  • A different participant mentions that some cranes may operate in "windmill mode," where motors act as generators to charge batteries.
  • It is noted that standard procedure is to allow cranes to weathervane to avoid collapse from side loading, indicating they can tolerate significant wind forces this way.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that cranes are designed to handle high winds through specific operational modes, but there is no consensus on the exact mechanisms or limits of their tolerance to extreme conditions.

Contextual Notes

There are assumptions about the operational protocols of cranes in high winds, and the discussion does not clarify the specific wind speed thresholds for safety or the exact nature of the control systems involved.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in construction safety, engineering design of cranes, and operational protocols in adverse weather conditions may find this discussion relevant.

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Across the street from my apartment there is a building under construction and a large jib crane is right outside my window. Today we have 20-30mph winds. All construction workers have gone home for the day. I see that the crane is rotating back and forth. It's very unnerving, but as I read perfectly normal and necessary. I just wonder how it knows where to point and what is controlling it. For a few minutes it was rotating quite a bit back and forth. However now it looks to have stopped yet the winds are still blowing quite hard. Is it just moving with the wind or is there some sort of motor and computer system to tell it where to point? What happens if a severe storm hits? Can the crane survive 60-70-80mph gusts?
 
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berkeman said:
I just did a quick Google search, and apparently many are set into "weathervane" mode in this situation

This one seems to go into windmill mode:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPNGbv4EhL4

The motors work as generators and charge the batteries!
 
Standard procedure is to let them weather vane. The the other option is to let them collapse due to side loading. They will tolerate a great deal of wind this way.
 

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