Repair Analysis for a Fatigue-Damaged Crane Runway Beam

Abstract

This thesis showcases the repair of a crane girder beam that has been damaged due to fatigue. The EU region´s legislative bodies currently do not provide a standardized approach to guide designers in such repair. This thesis does not conduct a crack analysis but focuses on the high-stress areas most susceptible to fatigue failure. To achieve this goal, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is performed using the LS-Dyna simulation program. To compensate for the absence of a dedicated Eurocode standard, the standards of Eurocode 3, Eurocode 1, the Manual for Repair and Retrofit of Fatigue Cracks in Steel Bridges, and recommendations for fatigue design of welded joints and components are utilized in this thesis. The analysis aims to exemplify how such a repair can be implemented. The implemented fix utilizes a pre-tensioned bolted connection and a fatigue failure analysis to determine the failure area.