Ground conditions

Find out how loads affect pressure changes.

Always consider the ground conditions when setting up a crane.

No load on hook examples

Highest load on the front outrigger

Highest load on outrigger under counterweight

Load on hook examples

Highest load on outrigger under jib

Highest load on outriggers nearest load

Crawler track pressure change

Crawler track pressure can change due to different load cases.

With no load on the hook, the pressure is highest under the rear of the tracks. This is due to the counterweight:

No load

With the jib in line with the tracks and a load on the hook there will be an equal triangular or trapezoidal loading under each track:
 

Jib in line and load on the hook

As the jib is slewed around until it is over the end of one track, the pressure increases under that track:

Jib slewed around

If the jib is slewed until it is at a right angle to the tracks, the pressure becomes a rectangular distribution. The track nearest the load has the greatest pressure:

Rectangular distribution