Modal Analysis of Gantry Crane and Superstrucutre Made by Steel and Alluminium Alloy

The aims of this research are twofold. The first one is to design an innovative machine consist of a gantry crane and superstructure as a loader crane, and the second one is to implement an innovative material for this machine, using aluminium alloy instead of steel for the loader crane arms. Another objective concerns the study of the dynamic behaviour of the crane with two different material configurations. Due to this machine's composition, the lifting equipment exhibits a high degree of versatility. The design process was developed using an analytical method to estimate the loads of each component of the machine, followed by solid modelling and numerical analyses. The main results show that the weight of the loader crane arms made of aluminium alloy is approximately 50% lighter than those made of steel, with dynamic behaviour very similar for both solutions.