Statics-based simulation approach for two-crane lift

Cooperative cranes are widely used in modern construction projects and can reduce the cost and time of heavy lift. The safety of cooperative crane lift can be improved by using simulation method. This paper proposes a statics-based simulation approach for two cooperative cranes, which could accurately determine the slopes and the tensions of the lifting cables. The proposed approach utilizes the principle of minimum potential energy to transform the problem of determining the slopes and tensions of lifting cables to an optimization problem with geometric and physical constraints. The accuracy is verified by comparing with results of ADAMS simulation in different scenarios. Physical properties are taken into account in this approach to make sure that the two-crane cooperative lifting simulation is close to actual lift. The proposed method has been incorporated into a computer-aided system, which assists planners in developing reliable lifting plans more efficiently. The effectiveness and usability of the developed algorithm is shown using an actual case.