Numerical simulation research on the overturning of gantry crane by downbursts

Abstract

Based on the simulation of the fluid-structure interaction response, the cause of an overturning of a gantry crane induced by a downburst in Shenzhen is studied in this paper. According to the results, (1) Vicroy's downburst model could establish the steady-state wind field of the downburst more reasonably when there was only low-level wind speed observation data, and its simulation results were close to the two-dimensional downburst numerical simulation results; (2) Compared with the normal exponential vertical profile of wind speed, the disturbance caused by the front girder of the double-girder gantry crane structure under the downburst wind field was more severe, which increases the probability of the gantry crane overturning. (3) The downwind displacement of the main girder of the gantry crane under the condition of downburst is far greater than that under the normal condition. At the same time, under the condition of downburst, the pressure difference on the surface of the gantry crane was greater, and the distribution of the support reaction force was more uneven, resulting in a stronger overturning tendency of the gantry crane. (4) Under the condition of downburst, the overturning moment and the shearing force borne by the foundation of gantry crane exceeded the critical value to maintain the stability of the gantry crane by the gravity, resulting in the overturning of the gantry crane.

Keywords

• Downburst
• Vertical profile of wind speed
• Gantry crane
• Computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
• Fluid-structure interaction