ENHANCING TERMINAL OPERATIONS WITH SMR MECHANICAL ENGINEERING’S STRUCTURAL VALIDATION EXPERTISE - PART III

In our previous articles, we introduced you to a selection of SMR Mechanical Engineering ’s structural validation services for port terminals. In this final installment, we will complete the picture by exploring the remaining services that can help you optimize your operations and extend the lifespan of your equipment.

Maneuvers and Relocations

Within terminals, various maneuvers and/or movements of cranes are carried out for different reasons, some of which may be:

• Relocations: Changing the location of cranes on rails for reason of operation, repair, and maintenance, etc
• Lifting: when a structural modification of height increase is carried out, lifting systems are used to introduce the leg supplements.
• Repairs: When repairs and arrangements must be carried out, auxiliary methods and elements are used for their execution.

We help terminals by providing support in the design and structural validation of support systems, lifting, movement, auxiliary structures, tools, etc. to carry out these maneuvers safely and reliably. In addition, we not only validate auxiliary elements but also analyze in depth the auxiliary element-crane interaction to ensure the integrity of the cranes that will be subjected to load cases outside of their design.

At SMR, we seek the best solutions for this type of maneuver and accompany the entire design and validation process, always seeking to optimize resources, time, cost and maximize the safety of the assets, since in many cases they are high-risk operations.

Reverse Engineering, 3D Scanning and Root Cause Analysis

The high operational demands placed on different types of cranes in terminals can lead to various problems and breakdowns. The range of these failures is very broad, and from a structural point of view, we can observe that some of the reasons are known, such as: impact of a ship with the boom, impact on the legs, etc. In other cases, defects appear, and the exact cause is unknown: wear of wheels and rails, breakage of pins in articulated elements, permanent deformations without prior impact, etc.

At SMR, we evaluate these problems, seek the possible cause, and develop the best solution through reverse engineering and root cause analysis.

For problems caused by impacts that have caused permanent deformations, we perform advanced measurements and carry out a study to quantify these deformations and observe if they are within the limits of the relevant international regulations, thus ensuring correct operation if they are; if not, we proceed to propose the best possible solution, as well as help define the repair processes.

When the cause is unknown, we use different tests and simulations, such as: topographies, 3D measurements, operational analysis, non-linear structural analysis, dynamic analysis, inspections, and NDT tests, etc., to find the reason for the different failures and propose the appropriate solutions based on the results obtained.

In addition to this, there is a fairly recurring case of lack of information about cranes in terminals. When cranes are of a certain age or for other reasons, the set of detailed plans for the cranes are not available, which can cause a problem when carrying out the different analyses and validations: remaining life analysis, modifications, design review, repairs, etc. At SMR, we solve this problem by using 3D scanning, thickness measurement devices, and a highly qualified technical team that is responsible for gathering all the information to be able to have a detailed 3D model of the crane to be analyzed.

Through all these described services, SMR Mechanical Engineering has assisted terminals around the world, demonstrating the importance of structural validation in their assets to ensure the safety, longevity and adaptability of cranes and equipment.