Welding and fabrication defects can greatly affect the performance and longevity of steel structures. Having an understanding of the various defects, their causes and remedies can help to ensure higher-quality and longer lasting structures.
This article provides a high level summary table of changes in the AS4324.1-2017 standard and likely implications for new and existing machines.
Materials handling machines are complex structures which often rely on load limiting devices to prevent damage. Fatigue damage is a consideration for machines of this type.
Excessive vibration of equipment or structures can have a range of detrimental effects, however what is considered excessive is not always well understood. There are a number of standards which outline what is considered an “acceptable” level of vibration.
Major structural failures of heavy mobile machines may have multiple contributing causes in addition to the technical issues normally considered in structural design codes. Organizational factors involved in structural failures for which detailed information was available have been investigated.
AS 4324.1-2017 has been recently published. One of the changes in the standard is the use of partial load factors that are consistent with the Limit States Design method used in structural design.
Standards Australia recently published the latest edition of AS4324.1 Mobile equipment for continuous handling of bulk materials – General requirements for the design of steel structures in December 2017. The standard was first published in 1995 and the revision has been prepared by the Standards Australia ME43 committee to update it and clarify some areas which have caused ambiguity over the last 20 years of use.
Rendel and ASPEC have been the the Impregilo-Salini Joint Venture (ISJV)’s Proof Engineer to perform an independent design check of the viaduct as well as the cable-stayed bridge. Final certification was issued on Monday 23 October 2017.
Richard talks about the history and the future of ASPEC.