Multi-cable anti-swing system for cranes subject to ship excitation and wind disturbance: Dynamic analysis and application in engineering

Abstract

Offshore cranes generally have low working efficiency, high operating risk, and low lifting accuracy under rough sea conditions. In this study, a Multi-Cable Anti-Swing System (MCAS) is proposed in terms of a 45-ton crane of a 27,000-ton multipurpose vessel of COSCO Shipping Group as a design prototype, and it is adopted to investigate the dynamic characteristics of the MCAS for cranes within an offshore environment. The MCAS is simplified as a restricted-pendulum with ship-motion excitations, and a wind load is incorporated into the dynamic model of the MCAS. Moreover, the dynamic characteristics of the MCAS are simulated and analyzed using Matlab/Simulink, and the experiments were performed on the laboratory prototype of the crane equipped with the MCAS. As indicated by the crane operation data, the payload swing amplitude was reduced by 85% with the MCAS, which notably increased the lifting efficiency of offshore cranes. The results of this study will contribute to the in-depth optimization and engineering application of the MCAS onboard ships.