Numerical and Analytical Estimation of the Wind Speed Causing Overturning of the Fast-Erecting Crane—Part II

Abstract

The currently presented work is a continuation of the previous one, where the estimation of the forces induced by the wind flow acting on the fast-erecting crane. In that work, the values of the aerodynamic forces were determined experimentally and numerically for the sectional models of the tower and jib. Next, the obtained results were compared with the appropriate standards. Now, the main aim is to determine the critical wind speed causing the overturning of the whole structure. At the very beginning, the numerical analysis of the simplified model of the crane on the real scale is studied. The computations are performed with the use of the ANSYS FLUENT R22. The simulations are performed for three different wind profiles, namely: urban terrain, village terrain, and open terrain. Moreover, the various geometric configurations of the crane in the wind direction are studied. The k-ε model of turbulent flow is exploited. The obtained critical values of the wind speed are confronted with those that are obtained from standards and estimations based on the results obtained from previous investigations performed for sectional models. The influence of the load carried by the crane is also taken into consideration in the overturning of the structure.