Finite Element Analysis Report

Dynamiq Engineering Ltd Engineering Calculation File Sheet 1 of 15
UNCLASSIFIED
Commercial-in-Confidence
Advanced Engineering
Document Ref.: DYN-ORP01-ECF01-REV0
The Strength & Load Spreading Capacity of Polymer

Document Title: OutRigger Pads
Author: Dr. J. L. Hill (Dynamiq Engineering)
Checker: Type 1 Check (Author)
Approver: Mr. Charles Grizzle (OutRigger Pads)
Revision Record
Rev: Date: Author: Revisions:
Rev 0 31/01/2017 JLH First Issue.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
(C) Dynamiq Engineering Ltd 2017
The document and the data it records are provided in confidence and except with Dynamiq
Engineering Limited's prior written consent, must not be copied in whole or part in any form,
used for any purpose or disclosed to any person and all rights (including copyright and design
rights) therein belong to Dynamiq Engineering Limited.
Last Modified: 31/01/2017 at 21:26 DYN-ORP01-ECF01-REV0.xmcd

Document Contents:
Section: Title: Sheet:
1.0 - Objectives 3
2.0 - Method 4
3.0 - References 4
4.0 - Input Data 4
5.0 - Assumptions 6
6.0 - Calculations 6
7.0 - Results & Conclusions 15
8.0 - Appendices 9

1.0 - Introduc9on & Objec9ves

Outrigger Pads manufacture a 'Mul=-Mat' out rigger pad system designed to spread the foot pressure loads
from cranes and other li>ing equipment on a variety of surfaces to limit outrigger sinking and to protect
finished surfaces from scuffing or damage.
The mul=-mat system is comprised of a set of interlocking mats that can be arranged in various sizes and
shapes and layered to provide the required s=ffness and load spreading characteris=cs. A typical applica=on
is shown below in Figure 1.
Figure 1 - Outrigger Pads, Mul9-Mat System
The objec=ves of the analysis presented in this file are to demostrate the strength and load spreading
characteris=cs of the conven=onal 6-piece mat system when subjected to a ver=cal 140Te load. This will be
achieved by carrying out a detailed finite element analysis of the system when interac=ng with four different
ground condi=ons:
• Medium Compacted Silty Sand & Gravel (Elas=c Modulus = 20MPa)
• Medium Uniform Sand (Elas=c Modulus = 50MPa)
• Medium Well Graded Sand/Gravel (Elas=c Modulus = 160MPa)
• Dense Well Graded Sand/Gravel (Elas=c Modulus - 320MPa)

2.0 - Method
A 3D CAD model of the pads has been generated using Solidworks 2016 SP4.0 and imported into ANSYS V16.2
for finite element analysis. The model includes fric=onal contact between adjacent pads and the ground plane.
A large volume of ground is modelled beneath the pad including an appropriate representa=on of the ground
s=ffness in order to appor=on load correctly for the given ground condi=ons. The soil condi=ons are modelled
simplis=cally as linear elas=c material with reference to the methods of Obrzud & Truty 201 2, Kedzi 1974 &
Prat et al 1 995.
In order to maximise the applicabilty of the calcula=ons and therefore consider the performance of the pads at
various stages of their opera=onal life, any strength derived from the loose interconnec=ons is neglected,
simula=ng a worn or poorly assembled joint.
The crane outrigger load is assumed to occur of a 5 00mm diameter in the centre of the upper circular pad
ac=ng ver=cally downwards and the soil volume is restrained at its base and sides as shown in Figure 3.
3.0 - References
Ref. #: Description:
The hardening soil model - A practical guidebook, Z Soil PC 100701 Report,
1
31.01.2012, Obrzud, R. & Truty, A.
2 Handbook of Soil Mechanics, Elseveir, Kezdi, A. (1974)
La modelisation des ouvrages. Hermes, Paris, Prat, M. Bisch, E., Millard, A.,
3
Mestat, P., and Cabot, G.
A finite element analysis of a 3 tier pacl of interlocking mats, Eatec, 8th July
4
2016.
5 Interlocking Multi-Mat System Guide, Outrigger Pads
6 Material Specification Sheet, Outrigger Pads
7 Outrigger Pads Brochure, Outrigger Pads
8 Lloyds British Test Report, Outrigger Multi Mat System
9 1200x60mm Premium Pad Drawing, Outrigger Pads
10 F157181 Pad Interconnection Detail Drawing, Outrigger Pads
Table 1 - Summary of References
4.0 - Input Data

The baseline geometry of the outrigger pads have been defined by the client as:
• Rectangular Pad: 1800mm x 665mm x 50mm
• Circular Pad: 1200 mm Diameter x 60mm
The crane outrigger feet are defined as 400-600mm in size and either circular or square in profile. Circular pads
of 500mm diameter are considered in this report.
USCS Description Loose Medium Dense

GW, SW Gravels/Sand well-graded 30 - 80 80 - 160 160 - 320
SP Sand, uniform 10 - 30 30 - 50 50 - 80
GM , SM Sand/Gravel silty 7 - 12 12 - 20 20 - 30
Table 2 - Typical S9ffnesses of Granular Soil Types

USCS Description Very soft to soft Medium Stiff to very stiff Hard
ML Silts with slight plasticity 2.5 - 8 10 - 15 15 - 40 40 - 80

ML, CL Silts with low plasticity 1.5 - 6 6 - 10 10 - 30 30 - 60
Clays with low-medium
CL 0.5 - 5 5-8 8 - 30 30 - 70
plasticity
CH Clays with high plasticity 0.35 - 4 4-7 7 - 20 20 - 32
OL Organic silts - 0.5 - 5 - -
OH Organic clays - 0.5 - 4 - -
Table 3 - Typical S9ffnesses of Cohesive Soil Types
Figure 2 - FEA Model Geometry, Mul9-Mats & Surrounding Ground Model
The material from which the pads are manufactured is defined as PE-UHMW, which has the following proper=es:
kg
Density: ρ1 := 951
3
m
Elas=c Modulus: E1 := 1.35GPa
Poisson's Ra=o: ν1 := 0.46
Yield Strength: σy := 23MPa
Ul=mate Strength: σu := 38MPa

5.0 - Assump9ons
The following assump=ons were made in developing the analysis.
• The PE-UHMW is modelled as a linearly elas=c material and no account of post yield
plas=c strain is taken in the analysis.
• The ground volume is modelled as a linear elas=c material, with an appropriate s=ffness
defined using the referenced geotechnical sources.
• No account is taken of ground plas=city or visco-plas=c behaviour.
• Loading is assumed to be temporay and therefore no account is taken of any

=me-dependent strain.
• The 140Te load is applied as a uniform load over the 500mm diameter patch.
• The sides and base of the simulated ground volume are assumed to be fixed.
6.0 - Calcula9ons
In this sec=on the results of four finite element simula=ons are presented that consider four ground condi=ons
that cover the majority of site ground condi=ons. Extremely so> ground condi=ons, such as loose silty ground
or wet clay are not considered as these condi=ons are deemed to be too so> for the crane or li>ing equipment
to access and drive over. The ground condi=ons considered ex plicitly are:
• Medium Compacted Silty Sand & Gravel (Elas=c Modulus = 20MPa)

• Medium Uniform Sand (Elas=c Modulus = 50MPa)
• Medium Well Graded Sand/Gravel (Elas=c Modulus = 160MPa)
• Dense Well Graded Sand/Gravel (Elas=c Modulus - 320MPa)
However, it should be noted that the results apply equally to cohesive soil types of simular s=ffness levels.

6.1 - Load Case 1: Medium Compacted Silty Sand & Gravel (20MPa)
Figure 3 - Finite Element Model Boundary Condi9ons (Fixed Supoport & 140Te Load)
Figure 4 - Load Case 1, 20MPa Ground Condi9ons, Displacement Plot
As can be observed from Figure 4, when the ground is so> a significant amount of pad deflec=on occurs in order
for the pad to distribute the load. This process is very effec=ve in distribu=ng the contact pressure with the
ground but it is important that the ul=mate strength of the pad material is not exceeded in accomada=ng the
deflec=on. The peak deflec=on reported for the 20MPa ground condi=ons was 65mm in the centre of the pad.

Figure 5 - Load Case 1, 20MPa Ground Condi9ons, Pad Stress Plot
Figure 6 - Load Case 1, 20MPa Ground Condi9ons, Ground Contact Pressure

Figures 5 & 6 illustrate the pad stresses resul=ng from the 140Te load and the distributed contact pressure on
the underside of the pad. As can be seen the peak stresses on the pads for ground with a s=ffness of 20MPa are
slightly higher than the 38MPa allowable for the material and therefore some cracking of the lower surface of
the pad would be expected if the full 140 Te load was applied on ground this so>.
Figure 6 however, shows the the contact pressure is significantly distrubuted over an area of around 1.25m
diameter and the peak contact pressure is reduced to just 2.7MPa, which is 38% of the average contact
pressure of the unpadded foot. Between 450-500mm from the centre of the pad the contact pressure drops to
just 1MPa, which is just 14% of the unpadded foot value. The pads are therefore very effec=ve at spreading the
crane foot loads.

6.2 - Load Case 2: Medium Uniform Sand (50MPa)
As can be observed from Figure 7, as the ground becomes s=ffer the deflec=on occuring in the pads is reduced.
The peak deflec=on reported for the 50MPa ground condi=ons was 33mm in the centre of the pad.

Figures 8 & 9 illustrate the pad stresses resul=ng from the 140Te load and the distributed contact pressure on
the underside of the pad. As can be seen the peak stresses on the pads for ground with a s=ffness of 50MPa are
slightly below than the 38MPa allowable for the material and therefore the pad would be expected to
withstand this load without either failure or permentant deforma=on.
Figure 9, shows the the contact pressure is again significantly distrubuted over an area of around 1.2 5m
crane foot loads.

6.3 - Load Case 3: Medium We ll Graded Sand/Gravel (160MPa)
The peak deflec=on reported for the 160MPa ground condi=ons was 14.7mm in the centre of the pad.

Figures 11 & 12 illustrate the pad stresses resul=ng from the 140Te load and the distributed contact pressure
on the underside of the pad. As can be seen the peak stresses on the pads for ground with a s=ffness of
160MPa are well below than the 38MPa allowable for the material and therefore the pad would be expected to
Figure 12, shows the the contact pressure is again significantly distrubuted over an area of around 1.25m
crane foot loads.

6.4 - Load Case 4: Dense We ll Graded Sand/Gravel (320MPa)
The peak deflec=on reported for the 320MPa ground condi=ons was 10.3mm in the centre of the pad.

Figures 14 & 15 illustrate the pad stresses resul=ng from the 140Te load and the distributed contact pressure
on the underside of the pad. As can be seen the peak stresses on the pads for ground with a s=ffness of
320MPa are well below than the 38MPa allowable for the material and therefore the pad would be expected to
Figure 15, shows the the contact pressure is again significantly distrubuted over an area of around 1.25m
crane foot loads.

7.0 - Results & Conclusions

The following table summarises the results of the analysis carried out and the effec=veness of the mul=-mat
system on the distrubu=on of contact pressure for various ground condi=ons.
Ground Pad/Ground Peak Pad Safety Peak Ground

Ground Condition: Stiffness: Deflection Stress: Factor: Contact Pressure
(MPa) (mm) (MPa) (SF>1=OK) (MPa)
Medium Compacted Silty Sand/Gravel 20 65 40.6 0.94 2.7
Medium Uniform Sand 50 32.6 24.3 1.56 3.3
Medium Well Graded Sand/Gravel 160 14.7 15.1 2.52 4
Dense Well Graded Sand/Gravel 320 10.3 13 2.92 4.5
Table 3 - Summary of Results
A detailed finite element analysis has been carried out considering releas=c ground s=ffness levels for a range
of ground condi=ons applicable to granular and cohesive soil types. The results show that for ground
s=ffnesses over 30MPa then the mul=-mat spreader pad system is able to effec=vely spread the 1 40Te foot
loads from a crane outrigger while drama=cally reducing the contact pressure of outrigger feet to as liOle as
38% of the average un padded foot values. Moreover the pad arrangements effec=vely spread the load of the
pads over an area of around 1.25m diameter on all soil types considered and in these loca=ons the contact
pressure is typically between 10-14% of the value of an unpadded foot.
Based on the informa=on provided to us, the analysis carried out in this project demonstrates that the
mul=-mat system is an effec=ve load spreading device for all but the so>est ground condi=ons. In extremely
so> ground condi=ons then local deforma=on of the pads may result in local cracking or damage of the pads,
however even in these extreme condi=ons the load has been demonstrated to s=ll be effec=vely distributed by
the product.

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Dynamiq Engineering Ltd Engineering Calculation File Sheet 1 of 15

Document Ref.: DYN-ORP01-ECF01-REV0

The Strength & Load Spreading Capacity of Polymer

Author: Dr. J. L. Hill (Dynamiq Engineering)

Checker: Type 1 Check (Author)

Approver: Mr. Charles Grizzle (OutRigger Pads)

Last Modified: 31/01/2017 at 21:26 DYN-ORP01-ECF01-REV0.xmcd

Section: Title: Sheet:

4.0 - Input Data 4

7.0 - Results & Conclusions 15

Last Modified: 31/01/2017 at 21:26 DYN-ORP01-ECF01-REV0.xmcd

1.0 - Introduc9on & Objec9ves

Figure 1 - Outrigger Pads, Mul9-Mat System

Last Modified: 31/01/2017 at 21:26 DYN-ORP01-ECF01-REV0.xmcd

4.0 - Input Data

USCS Description Loose Medium Dense

Last Modified: 31/01/2017 at 21:26 DYN-ORP01-ECF01-REV0.xmcd

ML Silts with slight plasticity 2.5 - 8 10 - 15 15 - 40 40 - 80

Table 3 - Typical S9ﬀnesses of Cohesive Soil Types

Figure 2 - FEA Model Geometry, Mul9-Mats & Surrounding Ground Model

Poisson's Ra=o: ν1 := 0.46

Yield Strength: σy := 23MPa

Ul=mate Strength: σu := 38MPa

Last Modified: 31/01/2017 at 21:26 DYN-ORP01-ECF01-REV0.xmcd

• No account is taken of ground plas=city or visco-plas=c behaviour.

• Loading is assumed to be temporay and therefore no account is taken of any

• Medium Compacted Silty Sand & Gravel (Elas=c Modulus = 20MPa)

Last Modified: 31/01/2017 at 21:26 DYN-ORP01-ECF01-REV0.xmcd

Figure 4 - Load Case 1, 20MPa Ground Condi9ons, Displacement Plot

Last Modified: 31/01/2017 at 21:26 DYN-ORP01-ECF01-REV0.xmcd

Figure 5 - Load Case 1, 20MPa Ground Condi9ons, Pad Stress Plot

Figure 6 - Load Case 1, 20MPa Ground Condi9ons, Ground Contact Pressure

Last Modified: 31/01/2017 at 21:26 DYN-ORP01-ECF01-REV0.xmcd

6.2 - Load Case 2: Medium Uniform Sand (50MPa)

Figure 7 - Load Case 2, 50MPa Ground Condi9ons, Displacement Plot

Figure 8 - Load Case 2, 50MPa Ground Condi9ons, Pad Stress Plot

Last Modified: 31/01/2017 at 21:26 DYN-ORP01-ECF01-REV0.xmcd

Figure 9 - Load Case 2, 50MPa Ground Condi9ons, Ground Contact Pressure

Last Modified: 31/01/2017 at 21:26 DYN-ORP01-ECF01-REV0.xmcd

6.3 - Load Case 3: Medium We ll Graded Sand/Gravel (160MPa)

Figure 10 - Load Case 3, 160MPa Ground Condi9ons, Displacement Plot

Figure 11 - Load Case 3, 160MPa Ground Condi9ons, Pad Stress Plot

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Figure 12 - Load Case 3, 160MPa Ground Condi9ons, Ground Contact Pressure

Last Modified: 31/01/2017 at 21:26 DYN-ORP01-ECF01-REV0.xmcd

6.4 - Load Case 4: Dense We ll Graded Sand/Gravel (320MPa)

Figure 13 - Load Case 4, 320MPa Ground Condi9ons, Displacement Plot

Figure 14 - Load Case 4, 320MPa Ground Condi9ons, Pad Stress Plot

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Figure 15 - Load Case 4, 320MPa Ground Condi9ons, Ground Contact Pressure

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7.0 - Results & Conclusions

Ground Pad/Ground Peak Pad Safety Peak Ground

Table 3 - Summary of Results

Last Modified: 31/01/2017 at 21:26 DYN-ORP01-ECF01-REV0.xmcd

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