Structural frame Design for entire drill rig 12

[Sesha13]

hi

I m recently engaged in to project where design the steel Mainframe for drill rig (Epiroc). Frankly, I have no idea how to start and finish, I know we should go with beams to support this kind of high load-bearing condition (40000kg approx.).

I haven't worked on support or structure to bear a 40-ton weight before. Moreover, I need a clear picture of design considerations, stress calculations, welding process, and anything that involved in optimizing the design.

please give any reference of complete frame design with all calculations and considerations with forementioned.

I keen to learn everything even it takes time but I struggle to picturize what should I learn?! really appreciate it if someone guide me
thanks in advance

 

[JStephen]

Doing a Google image search for "Epiroc" pulls up all kinds of mobile equipment, so I'm not at all clear on what it is you're actually designing.
If it's a vehicle frame for mobile equipment, presumably Epiroc does that and all your required input and training would come from them.

Otherwise, for some sort of generic one-off structural frame to support a piece of equipment, some of the items involved:
-Determine all loads, weights, reactions, stiffness/vibration requirements, mounting details, support recommendations, etc., that would normally come from the manufacture of the equipment.
-Determine require layout of the frame, any associated platforms, etc.
-Determine associated wind, seismic, snow, or other environmental loads applicable.
-Determine any material requirements for the temperature range involved, corrosion provisions, etc.
-Determine if any particular design code is applicable to the item being designed.
The remainder is a "How do I engineer" type question that is not conveniently answered in an online forum.
From the description, this could be a simple job for one person or an involved job for several people.

 

[JLNJ]

If you have no idea how to start or finish then maybe you need to find a professional who knows how to start and finish whom you can work with.

 

[dik]

Is this a platform, elevated from the ground? You need to find out the loads for the equipment and the manner in which it is fastened. You need to determine how much space is required around the equipment for the operation of it, maintenance, etc. You need to determine what the soils are like... strength, stability, etc. You should check to see what type of foundations are common in the area and how uniform the soil is. Are there any unusual loading conditions... tornadoes, hurricanes, permafrost, etc. The suggestion to work with a local structural engineer is a good one... even as a tutorial. I think the AISC has a spreadsheet to handle simple rigid frames (or Alex had one, way back); I used it for a little electrical building a decade or so back.

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[JLNJ]

We do seem to be getting a lot of “I don’t know what I’m doing so please provide for me a set of complete calcs I can copy” type questions recently. This is not how an engineer thinks or asks questions.

I had a conversation with a “mechanical” guy recently who was supposed to be providing me loads (reactions) from his equipment. He did not know what live and dead loads are, had no idea about load combinations, did not know anything about applying earthquake loads to his 200k piece of machinery, and had no clue as to the difference between fixed and pinned connections. All this was in front of the client. I would be mortified if I were caught knowing so little about something I had responsibility for.

 

[JedClampett]

It apparently is easier to do an internet search than to walk down the hall and ask the guy with hairy ears to give advice.

 

[dhengr]

I think half of it is that many (most?) boss’ these days are too stupid to know the difference or to question whether the engineer is qualified to do the work, because they don’t know how to do it themselves; half is that the title ‘engineer’ is so abused as to be meaningless in terms of real engineering ability; half is that schools aren’t teaching fundamental engineering any more, you can find that on the internet and still not know anything, here’s a software for you to play with, and the Prof. doesn’t know either, he’s to busy writing a paper to improve his tenure chances or to get a grant to earn his part of the student’s exorbitant tuition by actually teaching something meaningful; and that half of them have oversold themselves to such an extent, and now are to embarrassed to admit how little they really know and can do, hoping to be bailed out by a quick internet search and some unknown software that they don’t understand.

That’s four or five halves, and the whole bunch of them still have a glass full. When you see the OP’s and questions we are seeing here in the last few years, from supposed engineers, it is a wonder that anything being engineered these days actually works.

 

[NorthCivil]

dhengr

the fifth half is that junior engineers, if they can even get a job, are not being appropriately trained.

Companies are either too small to allow any time for training juniors, or so big that the bureaucracy cannot effectively train them.

 

[phamENG]

I think it goes even deeper than that. The roots are likely within the big "STEM" push that started 20 years ago. While they certainly had the best intentions in mind, it's created a perceived need to crank out students with "knowledge" in STEM subjects without properly preparing them. It also encourages everyone to go after STEM careers because they put a spotlight on how much more money you can supposedly make. So you have a bunch of people being forced into a line of work that they're really not cut out for, and as the system realigns itself for the lowest common denominator, it hurts everyone else.

Of course this isn't universal - there are a lot of people who belong here, are well prepared to be here, and thrive in engineering. But the number who aren't is growing and, unfortunately, this is the kind of place that tends to attract them because you can be a faceless numbskull, get enough info to cover yourself, and move on with what is likely a dead end career because you don't know how to figure out what you don't know.

 

[Sesha13]

hi

it's true that I haven't received any pieces of training from org but the ability to do this project comes from experience which i clearly lack (i have 3 years of experience so far). I realized that my baseless question got on your nerves which I respect and apologize for.

what I meant was I need to do study a similar application to understand the considerations(not like I do copy the calculations and substitute my values to get the design). I will approach my manager to raise these concerns to pursue this project further.

thank you for all your comments and apologies for killing your time.

 

[ATSE]

Sesha - the old grouchy guys in this post are not disappointed with you. My guess is that they are trying to recover from their own shock, where your supervisors gave you a task that is 3 orders of magnitude beyond your experience or abilities.
Find a senior guy (or gal) who will provide training, mentoring, and oversight. Even if he's a grouch (like the guys on this post). Actually, probably better if he's a grouch.
If you can't find this guy, leave, and go somewhere else. I'm serious.
My first 5 years were extremely valuable because I worked under some very smart, very experienced, marginally patience men and women that pushed me, but also provided guidance. Even one hour a week of guidance makes a huge difference in the early years.

 

[bkal]

Probably a slightly aside point. I am one of those guys with hairy ears () , and one of the most enjoyable part of my work is actually training / mentoring less experienced colleagues. I am lucky that my company recognises the value of this.

 

[dik]

A great post ATSE... and a star.

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik