Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1994. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-110). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, August, 1992. / Title from PDF t.p.

Thesis (doctoral)--Königliche Techische Hochschule zu Berlin, 1904. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 143-144).

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1994. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-87). Also available via the Internet.

The rapid movement of machines is a challenging control problem because it often results in high levels of vibration. As a result, flexible machines are typically moved relatively slowly to avoid such vibration. Therefore, motion-induced vibration limits the operational speed of the system. Input shaping is one method that eliminates motion-induced vibrations by intelligently designing the reference command such that system vibration is cancelled. It has been successfully implemented on a number of systems, including bridge and tower cranes. The implementation of input shaping on cranes provides a substantial increase in the operational efficiency. Unfortunately, most cranes, once erected, have limited or no base mobility. This limits their workspace. The addition of base mobility could help extend the operational effectiveness of cranes and may also expand crane functionality. Mobile cranes may also be better suited for use in harsh and/or distant environments. Teleoperation of oscillatory systems, such as cranes, then becomes another avenue for advancement of crane functionality. Base mobility in cranes presents both additional control challenges and operational opportunities. A crane with base mobility is redundantly actuated (overactuated), such that multiple combinations of actuators can be used to move a payload from one location to another. This opens the possibility for the selection of a combination of actuation that provides both rapid motion and limited system vibration. The extension of input shaping into this operational domain will provide a method to maximize effective actuation combinations. Toward addressing these issues, new multi-input shaping methods were developed and applied to a mobile, portable tower crane. During this development, a firm understanding of robust input shaping techniques and the compromises inherent to input shaper design was formed. In addition, input shaping was compared to other command generation techniques, namely lowpass and notch filtering, and proven to be superior for vibration reduction in mechanical systems. Another, new class of input shapers was also introduced that limit the input shaper induced overshoot in human operated systems. Finally, a series of crane operator studies investigated the application of input shaping techniques to teleoperated cranes. These studies suggested that input shaping is able to dramatically improve remote crane operator performance.

The blue crane (Grus paradisea) is endemic to southern Africa and has the smallest geographical range of the 15 crane species occurring world-wide. Although this species is still found throughout most of its historic range, it has experienced a significant and rapid decline in numbers over the last 20 years. One factor causing this decline is the illegal removal of chicks from the wild. Permits are required to keep, trade in and breed cranes in captivity. However, birds must be captive bred in order to obtain a permit. Therefore, chicks taken illegally from the wild are fraudulently incorporated into an existing captive population under the pretence that they offspring of a legal captive pair. This study describes the development of a set of microsatellite markers to assist the identification of illegal trade in the blue crane. These markers can ultimately be used to verify the relationship between the offspring and its claimed parents by performing parentage analyses. Forty microsatellite loci were obtained from genomic libraries previously developed in two other crane species and tested for cross-species utility in the blue crane. In addition, 42 loci were developed for this study from a blue crane species-specific genomic microsatellite library, of which 19 were tested for polymorphism in this species. The microsatellite markers characterised here were also tested for their utility in two other crane species: wattled crane (G. carunculatus) and grey-crowned crane (Balearica regulorum). One locus, Gamu007, was found to be sex-linked and therefore excluded from the set of markers. A total of 28 polymorphic loci were tested for the suitability in parentage analysis in the blue crane. Of these, a set of 16 loci were determined to be as suitable for this purpose. These loci were shown to be inherited in a Mendelian fashion in a single blue crane family. In addition, statistical analysis of the loci were identified as exhibiting linkage equilibrium, this was supported by their distant association on a predicted Grus microsatellite map based on the chicken genome. The selected loci were also identified as having a low frequency of null alleles as well as a total first and second parent exclusion power of 0.9999 and 1.0000, respectively. These loci provide a valuable tool for parentage testing in blue crane, and may also be valuable in population genetic studies to assist conservation strategies. In addition, this set may be used to assist legal cases involving the illegal trade in blue cranes upon completion of additional microsatellite marker validation procedures. Twenty-seven loci were polymorphic in the wattled and grey-crowned crane. These could provide a valuable source of micro satellite loci in these species, and could potentially eliminate the need for the development of a species-specific microsatellite library. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.

Thesis (MEng) -- Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this project was to study the deformations of the top flange and web of a girder panel resulting from loads, which have been imposed by an overhead travelling crane. This was achieved by designing a crane girder that represents dimensional ratios occurring in practice. The first part of this project attempts to determine the properties of the crane girder. The crane girder was built from drawings in the workshop of the University of Stellenbosch’s Civil-Department. Positions were identified where the strains were to be measured on the crane girder. The crane girder was subjected to loads according to SABS 0160 - 1989 and measurements were taken. The same beam was also modelled with finite elements. The numerical model was subjected to the same loads as the experimental crane girder. Comparisons were then made between the results of the experimental investigation and those of the numerical model. Good comparisons were achieved between the results and the numerical model was assumed to be correct. Other students could now use this model for investigating local stresses and strain effects that might cause fatigue and other in-service problems of electric overhead travelling cranes support structures in practice. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie projek was om die vervormings van die boonste flense en web van ’n kraanbalkpaneel te ondersoek, as gevolg van laste wat onderworpe was aan ’n oorhoofse kraanbalk. Dit was bereik deur ‘n balk te ontwerp wat dimensionele verhoudings in die praktyk verteenwoordig. In die eerste gedeelte van die projek word die eienskappe van die kraanbalk bepaal. Die kraanbalk was vanaf tekeninge in die werkswinkel van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch se Siviele Departement gebou. Posisies was geidentifiseer waar die vervormings op die kraanbalk gemeet sou word. Die kraanbalk was onderwerp aan laste volgens SABS 0160 - 1989 en meetings was geneem. Dieselfde balk was ook gemodelleer met eindige elemente. Die numeriese model was aan dieselfde laste as die eksperimentele balk onderwerp. Vergelykings was toe verkry tussen the resultate van die eksperimentele ondersoek en die numeriese model. Goeie vergelykings tussen die resultate was behaal en die numeriese model word as korrek aanvaar. Ander studente kan nou hierdie model gebruik vir die ondersoek na lokale spannings en vervormingseffekte wat moontlik vermoeidheid en ander in-diens probleme van elastiese oorhoofse kraan ondersteunende strukture in the praktyk kan veroorsaak.

Thesis (MScEng (Civil Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Electric driven overhead travelling bridge cranes (EOHTC) form a vital part of industrial plants where heavy objects require moving. Overhead travelling cranes aid in production by allowing an uninterrupted work process on the ground while heavy loads are moved to their required locations. Various factors need consideration in determining the loads induced by an EOHTC on its support structure. In order to design such a support structure, the designer must understand and take into account the various loads that the support structure will be subject to during its lifetime. The procedure for determining the loads induced by the EOHTC on its support structure is laid out in the SANS 10160-6:2010 code of practice. This document was published in June 2010 and as a result very few worked examples exist to test the coherence of the procedure. This thesis presents an investigation into the procedure for determining the actions induced by overhead travelling bridge cranes adopted in the SANS 10160-6:2010 code of practice. The investigation was conducted by developing a software application to automatically determine the necessary crane actions needed for the design of the crane support structure, given certain input parameters. The motivation behind this was to have a tool that can calculate the crane induced loads automatically. And by developing such a tool the procedure given in the code of practice is better understood. The Java programming language was used to code the calculations with an object oriented programming approach (OOP). NetBeans, the integrated development environment for developing with Java was used to generate the required graphical user interface of the application. In addition, a Microsoft Excel calculation sheet was also developed for the purpose of comparison and verification. Whilst developing the software application, it was found that the model for the acceleration or deceleration of the crane was specific for four wheel cranes only. This model was then extended to accommodate eight and sixteen wheel cranes and incorporated into the algorithm architecture of the application. The application was successfully completed and verified using benchmarked examples. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Elektriese oorhoofse brugkrane vorm ‘n belangrike deel van baie nywerheidsprosesse, waar dit gebruik word om swaar laste in die nywerheidsaanleg te verskuif. Oorhoofse brugkrane voeg waarde by die produksie lyn deur te sorg dat die werksproses op die grond onversteurd voortgaan terwyl swaar laste na hul vereiste posisies verskuif word. Verskillende faktore moet in ag geneem word om die nodige kraanlaste te bepaal. Hierdie laste word benodig om die kraan se ondersteuningstruktuur te ontwerp. Die ontwerper moet die nodige kundigheid hê en moet ook die verskeie laste in ag neem wat die ondersteuningstruktuur gedurende sy leeftyd sal dra. SANS 10160-6:2010 verskaf riglyne vir die bepaling van die laste wat deur oorhoofse brugkrane uitgeoefen word. Hierdie dokument is in Junie 2010 gepubliseer dus bestaan daar min uitgewerkte voorbeelde om die korrektheid van die riglyne te toets en toepassing te demonstreer. Hierdie proefskrif ondersoek die riglyne vir die bepaling van oorhoofse brugkraan aksies soos uiteengesit in die SANS 10160-6:2010. Die navorsing is uitgevoer deur middel van die ontwikkeling van ‘n sagteware toepassing wat die nodige oorhoofse brugkraanlaste automaties bepaal, gegee sekere invoer waardes. Die rede hiervoor was om ‘n hulpmiddel te ontwikkel vir die outomatiese bepaling van oorhoofse brugkraan. Deur die bogenoemde hulpmiddel te ontwikkel word die riglyne, soos gegee in die kode beter verstaan. Java is gebruik as programmeringstaal waar die objek geörienteerde programeringstyl toegepas was. Die geintegreerde ontwikkelingsomgewing vir ontwikkeling met Java, naamlik NetBeans is gebruik om die nodige gebruikers koppelvlak op te bou. ‘n Microsoft Excel sigblad is ook ontwikkel vir kontrolerings doeleindes. Gedurende die ontwikkeling van die sagtewarepakket is dit bevind dat die lasmodel vir die versnelling of vertraging van die oorhoofse brugkraan slegs op vierwiel krane van toepasing is. Hierdie lasmodel is dus uitgebrei om agt- en sestienwiel krane ook te bevat. Die lasmodel aanpassing is dan ook in die program se algoritme-argitektuur ingebou. Die sagteware toepassing is suksesvol ontwikkel en gekontroleer met ‘n maatstaf voorbeeld.

One of the primary reasons of the escalating rates of injuries and fatalities in the construction industry is the ever so complex, dynamic and continually changing nature of construction work. Use of cranes has become imperative to overcome technical challenges, which has lead to escalation of danger on a construction site. Data from OSHA show that crane accidents have increased rapidly from 2000 to 2004. By analyzing the characteristics of all the crane accident inspections, we can better understand the significance of the many variables involved in a crane accident. For this research, data were collected from the U.S. Department of Labor website via the OSHA database. The data encompass crane accident inspections for all the states. The data were divided into categories with respect to accident types, construction operations, degree of accident, fault, contributing factors, crane types, victim’s occupation, organs affected and load. Descriptive analysis was performed to compliment the previous studies, the only difference being that both fatal and non-fatal accidents have been considered. Multinomial regression has been applied to derive probability models and correlation between different accident types and the factors involved for each crane accident type. A log likelihood test as well as chi-square test was performed to validate the models. The results show that electrocution, crane tip over and crushed during assembly/disassembly have more probability of occurrence than other accident types. Load is not a significant factor for the crane accidents, and manual fault is more probable a cause for crane accident than is technical fault. Construction operations identified in the research were found to be significant for all the crane accident types. Mobile crawler crane, mobile truck crane and tower crane were found to be more susceptible. These probability models are limited as far as the inculcation of unforeseen variables in construction accidents are concerned. In fact, these models utilize the past to portray the future, and therefore significant change in the variables involved is required to be added to attain correct and expedient results.