FEM and Experimental Stress Analysis of a Jib Crane

Finite Element Method (FEM) and strain gage technique are used for analysing strain and stresses values on a jib cranes according to the standards. API and SAE J987 standards describe the test procedure and state the stress limits for cranes. The crane is constructed on a petroleum platform on the Caspian Sea. FEM was used to determine the critical points, which have high stress on the structure. Strain gages applied on these points are used to measure the strain and then stresses were calculated for each point. FEM and experiments’ results were compered to determine the differences and errors.