Increasing the Degree of Freedom in a Tower/Jib Crane

Abstract

The tower/Jib cranes are extensively used to construct super high-rise buildings with a multi-degree-of-freedom system. Jib cranes are used for industrial purposes, whereas the Tower cranes are used in heavy-duty lifting. This paper presents a new approach of utilizing a Jib crane with features of a tower crane based on many interrelated factors such as site constraints, shape and size of the buildings, types, and quantity of required materials, crane configurations, crane type, and construction site layout thereby increasing its degree-of-freedom. These factors range from one project to another, resulting in complicated site layout strategies and approaches. Jib cranes have motion, translational, and rotational constraints, which restrict its functionality. By utilizing the design characteristics of a Tower crane, constraints in the Jib crane are overcome. The elongation of the Jib crane design aims to make it more economical by increasing its efficiency and bridging the gap between a Jib and a tower crane.