Tips for Calculating Crane Pad Size
Determining the right sized crane pad is not always an easy task. There are many factors that come into play, which is why the Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA) released crane outrigger pad size calculator advice for the right size pads. Cranes and Lifting magazine recently reported on this topic.
CICA states that determining crane pad size is a four-step process:
- Calculate the force exerted on the ground by the crane.
- Determine what the allowable Ground Bearing Pressure is for the soil you are setting up on.
- Determine area by calculating force divided by pressure.
- Find the square root of the area to determine the crane pad dimensions.
DICA has created (see below) a crane pad and outrigger pad sizing graph as a quick and easy way to identify the outrigger pad or crane pad area needed to reduce the outrigger load to the target ground bearing pressure.
While it is simple to calculate the right crane pad area for your needs, determining the right material, construction, and thickness required to provide appropriate stability and distribute the load over the intended area is product and manufacturer specific. At DICA we are able to provide guidance for selecting either the outrigger pad or crane pad area, type, construction and thickness in addition to performance projections for each pad.