Floor analysis for moving heavy load with air pallets

[AWainStruc]

I'm analyzing a floor of a power plant for the transfer of a 90ton heater unit. The unit will be moved slowly across the floor supported by two 6'x9' air pallets set to a 27psi air pressure. They are essentially hover crafts, so I'm not sure what load they will be exerting on the floor. Right now I am assuming the worst case load will occur if they cut the air pressure and the full 90tons is distributed to the 2 air pallet footprints. Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

[StrykerTECH]

Air transfer pallets are cool devices. We use them all the time to move heavy machinery for customers. With a 6'x9' air pallet @27psi
you would be looking at:
6x9x144x27x2=419,904lbs moving capacity. That is over 200 tons ! ! !
Depending on the rating of your floor, most concrete is rated at 4000psi or greater. So you shouldn't have a problem. I would be more concerned with:
out of level floors, run away loads, and cracks and gaps.
once you get that 90 tons moving on an air glides it isn't going to stop, so be extremely careful.

StrykerTECH Engineering Staff
Milwaukee, WI

http://www.stryker-tech.com/