Numerical Methods to Simulate and Visualize Detailed Crane Activities

Abstract

Virtual construction allows engineers to simulate and visualize construction progress on computer before commencing the real project and is becoming an important technique to manage fast-track and complicated construction projects. One major consideration for virtual construction is the simulation of the operation of construction equipment for a construction project. This research specifically focuses on developing a mathematical model to support the simulation and visualization of cranes, the most critical equipment in terms of project controls. This model is composed of two submodels-a kinematics model and a dynamic model. The kinematics model is to present the crane components controlled by the operators. The dynamic model is to present the dynamic behavior in suspended system (including the cable and rigging object), which cannot be controlled directly by the operators. To verify the feasibility of these methods, a computer program that simulates and visualizes detailed crane activities was developed. This program supports the real-time visualization of crane activities with high degree of reality accuracy and also, enables the detailed simulation of long-term construction projects.

The dynamic analysis of the joint trolley movement and hoisting mechanism in the tower crane

“…The researches [16] have developed a mathematical model to simulate the tower crane operation in real time, which allows intensifying and speeding up engineering construction operations, as well as simplifying project planning. This model was presented in the form of two subsystems: kinematic and dynamic model.…”

Visualization of the Modeled Degradation of Building Flooring Systems in Building Maintenance

“…The combination of the simulation of component behavior and its visual representation is a well‐known phenomenon in the construction domain. Most notably, the simulation and visualization of crane movement has had a long evolutionary path (Kang and Miranda, ). However, the simulation of the time‐based degradation is somewhat unknown.…”

Development and Implementation of an Industry Foundation Classes‐Based Graphic Information Model for Virtual Construction

“…These models contain the following data: building elements, different resources required to carry out construction operations (Cheng and Yan, ), rules on how operations are performed, plan schedules, managerial decisions made during operations, and the stochastic nature of events (Kamat and Martinez, ). To illustrate the process and results of VC, some of these models also embody the 3D geometric representation for the 3D visualization of buildings and sites, as well as 3D animation (Kang and Miranda, ) to depict the motion of construction equipment and building components during construction.…”