Title: Concrete Portal Frame Crane Runway to AS3600, AS1418 and AS5100

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Publication: CIA

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Date: 2/28/2011

Abstract:
A 270m long precast concrete portal frame structure has been constructed to support overhead cranes used for precast panel storage and loading. The 20t capacity cranes span 25m between steel rails on concrete runway girders. The simply supported concrete girders span 9m between corbels on concrete columns. The columns are 13m high and support 27m long prestressed precast concrete Isection portal rafters based on road/rail bridge beams. Crane runway girders and portal frames of this size in Australia are traditionally fabricated from structural steel. This is reflected in Australian Standards. AS1418.18, Crane Runways and Monorails (1), covers steel runway girders and monorails only. The publication "Crane Runway Girders Limit States Design" (2) by Branko Gorenc, published by Australian Steel Institute, makes no mention of concrete runway girders. Concrete girders are well entrenched in the road and rail bridge market. The relevant sections of AS5100, Bridge Design (3), covering fatigue strength of concrete beams and other essential design considerations, were used, in conjunction with AS1418 and AS 3600 (4), to carry out the design of the structure. There is a need for AS1418 to be amended to cover concrete runway girders and monorails and for a concrete crane runway girders limit states design guide.