Risk-Based Stability Assessment of a Gantry Crane

Stability of a gantry crane was a challenge in its structure design. A new risk-based stability assessment approach was proposed in this paper. Analytical method was introduced firstly, and then finite element method was adopted to evaluate the stability of square bar. In order to verify the finite element models, results of buckling analysis were compared with the results of analytical method. Secondly, this finite element analysis was applied in stability assessment of a gantry crane, and through parameterized analysis risk elements were identified. Finally, risk-based stability assessment was applied to this gantry crane, and neural network algorithm was adopted to evaluate the risk elements which were defined by finite element analysis. The evaluating results were well consistetent with statistical data, which indicated this risk-based stability assessment approach was reliable which showed a potential in engineering application.