Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis of Lifting Mechanism of an Electric Overhead Crane during Emergency Braking

Mechanical brakes are essential for electric cranes when emergency braking occurs. This paper presents, for the first-time, a dynamic response analysis of emergency braking events of electrical cranes that has modelled crane components as flexible and rigid bodies. Based on the Hamilton principle, a nonlinear and non-smooth dynamic model is derived from a modified Lagrangian function and the virtual work of non-conservative forces. The dynamic responses of a 32-ton overhead travelling crane during the emergency braking process of its lifting mechanism with two service brakes determined by simulating realistic operations. The numerical results show that the loads acting on components of the crane during the braking process depend on the braking capacity and the action time of the mechanical brakes, as well as the magnitude and the initial position of the payload. When a dual-brake scheme of the lifting mechanism is adopted, the maximum load of the high-speed links and the maximum thermal power of the mechanical brake appear in the emergency braking process when one of the two brakes fails to work. In addition, it is found to be a false belief that the lower the initial speed, the lower the maximum loads acting on components of cranes become during the braking process.