Crane collapse in London 1

[bootlegend]

Crane collapse in London. Not clear if any fatalaties but it doesn't look good. A lot of detail in the Youtube video.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-london-53339296

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGoOZPAe78s

 

[JStephen]

Are the big triangular concrete pieces near the base of the crane part of the building, or some sort of counterweight scheme I'm not familiar with?

 

[IRstuff]

Looks like it thrashed that row house pretty good.

Also looks like one of the 4 concrete pads is missing, but I also don't see how the crane was anchored to the pads, since it doesn't appear to be any damage to the remaining pads.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg

faq731-376 forum1529 Entire Forum list

http://www.eng-tips.com/forumlist.cfm

 

[CANPRO]

The triangle pieces of concrete are definitely the counterweights. Looks like concrete weights stack on each side of the crane on the outrigger frames - the shape of (2) concrete pieces put together looks like it closely matches the shape of the crane base.

Looks like the crane fell at 45deg to the (4) crane legs/outriggers - the counter would be least effective in this orientation.

 

[LittleInch]

The fact there is a massive crane already there is quite suspicious - looks like it might have been being dismantled.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[thebard3]

Looks to me like it went over backwards, with the boom landing upside-down, assuming the counterweights lying between the tower and building should have been opposite the boom before anything went wrong.

Brad Waybright

It's all okay as long as it's okay.

 

[thebard3]

Watching the video some more, at about the 2:34 mark, I see what looks like more concrete counterweights on the ground beneath the boom. This is all on the other side of the building from where the tower base is. Anybody have some insight on this?

Brad Waybright

It's all okay as long as it's okay.

 

[LittleInch]

It's a wolff luffing jib crane. one person dead.

Lift the jib too high and they can go backwards.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[Agent666]

Also looks like one of the 4 concrete pads is missing, but I also don't see how the crane was anchored to the pads, since it doesn't appear to be any damage to the remaining pads.

That was my first though when I watched the video, "Jim you did install the hold down bolts right?", "um I thought you did it"...

But it does look like one of those gravity only deals, reliant on the weight of those counterweight blocks at the base for stability which are stacked on the base frame. Foundations are only their for levelling and distributing bearing loads. There is no holddown bolts or anything to the foundations typically.

 

[Agent666]

https://www.wolffkran.com/website/en/us/products/rental-fleet/details?p=1161

Possibly this model? Clearly shows gravity style base.

 

[Agent666]

I see what looks like more concrete counterweights on the ground beneath the boom. This is all on the other side of the building from where the tower base is. Anybody have some insight on this?

Likely the jib counterweights located in the crane assembly.

 

[LittleInch]

These look like the counterweights. No idea what the other concrete blocks were, but look like facades for the roof to create a roof line.

It does look like it fell over backwards though.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[human909]

I do find it humourous that the BBC article refers to it as a 20m (65ft) crane....

 

[LittleInch]

Well we only went "metric" in 1973....

There's still a significant part of the population which still doesn't think in metres.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[human909]

I was more thinking that the crane seems a little bigger than 20m!

 

[LittleInch]

Height maybe a little more but not much. The boom is a lot longer but the main shaft isn't that long.

Crane only went upt he day before. A type 355B wolff luffing jib crane

22m apparently

https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2020/07/09/collapsed-crane-was-erected-day-before-tragedy/

No real news as to what happened to cause it or the sequence of activities. It was a fairly light wind day in London that day.



Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[JohnRBaker]

If it was only erected the day before, I would suspect that when the investigation is over, that they will find that someone missed something while it was being assembled.

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without

 

[LittleInch]

Where has the fourth footing gone??

Cause or effect?

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[3DDave]

Unlike his FIU analysis I think AvE has it nailed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx3n54duJks

What he says fits the observable evidence this time.

 

[FacEngrPE]

Soft foot under a crane outrigger has resulted in the overturning of many cranes.

Setup and operation of large cranes requires scrupulous attention to details that can be easily over looked. Companies that get this have good safety records. The ones that do not get mentioned in publications like this one

https://www.craneaccidents.com/