Banca de DEFESA: ROMARIO STEFFANO AMARO DA SILVA

Geotechnical analysis of platforms for large crane operation

Crawler crane; Operating platforms; Brazilian design methodology; Geotechnical investigation; foundation engineering

The use of large crawler cranes in engineering projects introduces several complexities to the scope of the projects. In this context, the preparation of operational platforms capable of providing the necessary safety and functionality for the equipment to perform its activities stands out. These platforms must be constructed based on specific geotechnical analyses. International practice demonstrates that such analyses are developed by considering the crane's load on soil layers as similar to the case of direct foundations resting on the surface of a terrain. Thus, geotechnical investigation and design methods are adapted from foundation engineering. However, in Brazil, projects of this nature are usually developed from a perspective derived from highway engineering, which is not the most suitable for this type of situation. In this context, this thesis presents a discussion about the main aspects associated with international and national practices regarding the design and execution of platforms for operating large crawler cranes. It particularly focuses on the most commonly used geotechnical investigation and design methods. Based on these discussions, a methodology is proposed for the development of geotechnical investigation plans and design methods applicable to operational platforms for large crawler cranes, specifically adapted to the Brazilian context. Additionally, two examples of design sequences are presented using the proposed methodology. These examples illustrate how aspects such as the magnitude of the load and the geometry of the support elements influences the analyses.