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Edwards, D, Parn, E A, Sing, M C and Thwala, W D (2019) Risk of excavators overturning. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 479–98.

  • Type: Journal Article
  • Keywords: Construction safety; Construction equipment; Experimental studies; Tracked hydraulic excavator; Freely suspended load; Lifting chart; Safe working load;
  • ISBN/ISSN: 0969-9988
  • URL: https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-03-2018-0125
  • Abstract:
    Tracked hydraulic excavators are versatile and ubiquitous items of off-highway plant and machinery that are utilised throughout the construction industry. Each year, a significant number of excavators overturn whilst conducting a lifting operation, causing damage to property, personnel injury or even fatality. The reasons for the overturn are myriad, including: operational or environmental conditions; machine operator acts or omissions; and/or inadequate site supervision. Furthermore, the safe working load (SWL) figure obtained from manufacturer guidance and utilised in lift plans is based upon undertaking a static load only. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether the SWL is still safe to be used in a lift plan when slewing a freely suspended (dynamic) load, and, if not, whether this may be a further contributory factor to overturn incidents. Design/methodology/approach Previous research has developed a number of machine stability test regimes but these were largely subjective, impractical to replicate and failed to accurately measure the “dynamic” horizontal centrifugal force resulting from slewing the load. This research contributes towards resolving the stability problem by critically evaluating existing governing standards and legislation, investigating case studies of excavator overturn and simulating the dynamic effects of an excavator when slewing a freely suspended load at high rotations per minute (rpm). To achieve this, both the static load and horizontal centrifugal force from slewing this load were calculated for six randomly selected cases of an excavator, with different arm geometry configurations. Findings The results from the six cases are presented and a worked example of one is detailed to demonstrate how the results were derived. The findings reveal that the SWL quoted on an excavator’s lift rating chart considerably underestimates the extra forces experienced by the machine when an additional dynamic load is added to the static load whilst lifting and slewing a freely suspended load. Originality/value This work presents the first attempt to accurately model excavator stability by taking consideration of the dynamic forces caused by slewing a freely suspended load and will lead to changes in the way that industry develops and manages lift plans. Future research proposes to vary the weight of load, arm geometry and rpm to predict machine stability characteristics under various operational conditions, and exploit these modelling data to populate pre-programmed sensor-based technology to monitor stability in real time and automatically restrict lift mode operations.

Ekanayake, E, Shen, G and Kumaraswamy, M M (2019) Mapping the knowledge domains of value management: a bibliometric approach. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 499–514.

Gan, X, Chang, R, Langston, C and Wen, T (2019) Exploring the interactions among factors impeding the diffusion of prefabricated building technologies. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 535–53.

Hasan, A and Jha, K N (2019) Client and contractor roles in schedule incentive/disincentive projects. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 386–407.

Juan, Y, Lin, I and Tsai, J (2019) A hybrid approach to optimize initial design strategies for pre-sale housing projects. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 515–34.

Newaz, M T, Davis, P R, Jefferies, M and Pillay, M (2019) Validation of an agent-specific safety climate model for construction. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 462–78.

Ning, Y, Feng, M, Feng, J and Liu, X (2019) Understanding clients’ experience of trust and distrust in dwelling fit-out projects. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 444–61.

Wanigarathna, N, Sherratt, F, Price, A and Austin, S (2019) Design re-use: critical application of healthcare building design evidence. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 350–66.

Wu, G, Zhao, X, Zuo, J and Zillante, G (2019) Effects of team diversity on project performance in construction projects. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 408–23.

Zhang, L, Fenn, P and Fu, Y (2019) To insist or to concede? Contractors’ behavioural strategies when handling disputed claims. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 424–43.

Zhang, R, Xing, J, Ye, K, Lu, W and Shan, Y (2019) Synchronicity of global construction cost indexes. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 367–85.

Zhou, Y, Yang, Y and Yang, J (2019) Barriers to BIM implementation strategies in China. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 554–74.