Optimum Design of Bridge Girders for Electric Overhead Traveling Cranes

Abstract

The problem of the design of box-type bridge girders for electric overhead traveling cranes is formulated as a minimum weight design problem with inequality constraints. The restrictions placed on the design problem include limitations on the maximum allowable deflections and stresses as well as on the shock absorbing capacity during accidental collision. The overall stability and rigidity considerations are also taken into account. Several load conditions, as per the code specifications, are considered in the design problem. The resulting nonlinear programming problem is solved by using an interior penalty function method. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the approach. The resulting computer program is used to make a sensitivity analysis of the problem.