Tower Cranes

[cdbthunder]

What an exciting time to be in OKC, I have lived here all my life and don't recall as much excitement as now.
http://www.newsok.com/oklahoma-city-...ad_story_title

[Steve]

The NewsOK skyline cam will be providing special close-ups of the Devon headquarters construction site and the tower cranes twice today - from 10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. One must register as a subscriber to view the live video streaming. Oklahoman subscribers wishing to obtain the account number needed to log in and view the OKC Skyline Cam can do so by going to www.newsok.com/settings, emailing webmaster@newsok.com, or by calling 1-877-98-PAPER (1-877-987-2737).

[Rover]

Steve, you hinted at more tower construction to come downtown. Do you know more than you are telling us? Anything imminent?

[cdbthunder]

The NewsOK skyline cam will be providing special close-ups of the Devon headquarters construction site and the tower cranes twice today - from 10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. One must register as a subscriber to view the live video streaming. Oklahoman subscribers wishing to obtain the account number needed to log in and view the OKC Skyline Cam can do so by going to www.newsok.com/settings, emailing webmaster@newsok.com, or by calling 1-877-98-PAPER (1-877-987-2737).

Thank you Steve and I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your insight and input on this forum.

[metro]

Steve, you hinted at more tower construction to come downtown. Do you know more than you are telling us? Anything imminent?

Actually Mark Grimes with FlintCo hinted at the POSSIBILITY of more cranes.

The cranes, Grimes said, show Oklahoma has a pulse. "Don't be surprised if we see more (cranes) in the future."

Read more: http://www.newsok.com/oklahoma-city-...#ixzz0uR0cdyDn

[ourulz2000]

Why do I have the feeling that Steve knows something big is coming down the pike that he's withholding from us?

[Thunder]

About the tower cranes for Devon, I am a bit concerned about the safety of those cranes going higher and higher. From a distance, they appear so skinny and just keep on growing. How is it possible for it to stay erected without toppling over? Are they using cable lines to anchor it on all 4 corners? It is like the red/white towers all over the world being held by cable lines. The same for the cranes?

[Thunder]

Steve, you hinted at more tower construction to come downtown. Do you know more than you are telling us? Anything imminent?

I do not see any hint. If Steve is aware of another skyscraper to build downtown, he should tell us.

[ndmoore]

About the tower cranes for Devon, I am a bit concerned about the safety of those cranes going higher and higher. From a distance, they appear so skinny and just keep on growing. How is it possible for it to stay erected without toppling over? Are they using cable lines to anchor it on all 4 corners? It is like the red/white towers all over the world being held by cable lines. The same for the cranes?

They will tie them to the building as the cranes rise. I believe Big Gene said they will tie to the building every 80 to 100 feet and can be free standing up to 250 feet. The 2 east ones will be the only ones going higher.

[SkyWestOKC]

About the tower cranes for Devon, I am a bit concerned about the safety of those cranes going higher and higher. From a distance, they appear so skinny and just keep on growing. How is it possible for it to stay erected without toppling over? Are they using cable lines to anchor it on all 4 corners? It is like the red/white towers all over the world being held by cable lines. The same for the cranes?

They will be tied onto the Tower.

[Thunder]

So, that is one side tied to the tower, but what about the other side? Tied to the tower prevent it from falling down away from the tower, but if there is no ties for the other side, the wind/weight can push it onto the tower.

[ndmoore]

So, that is one side tied to the tower, but what about the other side? Tied to the tower prevent it from falling down away from the tower, but if there is no ties for the other side, the wind/weight can push it onto the tower.

I think it will be okay.

[SkyWestOKC]

I wouldn't worry about it, they know what they are doing.

[OKCisOK4me]

So, that is one side tied to the tower, but what about the other side? Tied to the tower prevent it from falling down away from the tower, but if there is no ties for the other side, the wind/weight can push it onto the tower.

OMG Thunder! Cranes 1 & 2 will both be tied into the tower--one on the east side of the tower, the other on the west side of the tower. I'm pretty sure the pros know how it works and we shouldn't have to worry about Oklahoma weather taking them out...

[semisimple]

So, that is one side tied to the tower, but what about the other side? Tied to the tower prevent it from falling down away from the tower, but if there is no ties for the other side, the wind/weight can push it onto the tower.

You should quickly go inform the engineers working at the site (or otherwise overseeing the construction) about this dangerous flaw in their plan for crane reinforcement--there is still time to avert this impending disaster. Good to know somebody is paying attention!

[ourulz2000]

Famous last words...

[earlywinegareth]

I'll wager a guess that Grimes was referring to the Aloft Hotel project scheduled to break ground in spring 2011.

[OKC@heart]

Famous last words...

Big Blues failure was one of the worst kinds of Crane failures but could have been avoided if the Supers on the project would have taken the protests of the crane operator seriously and if the crane operator would have dug his heels in and refused to operate under the winds that they were taking. The failure was not due to the winds by them selves or the load by itself all within acceptable specs, however the two combined with the direction of the wind and the roof structure that acted as a sail and swung in a direction that eccentrically loaded the crane in a direction that created loads that exceeded its capacity to hold without buckling. Plus this was one of the largest crawler cranes and a very different animal than a tower crane.

Tower Cranes are super stable because they are tied to the building. Remeber that the building is a hugely static object that can resist significant loads. So the rigid connections made to the building, work in both directions as a stabilizing member. (in tension and compression)

You simply can look up almost any highrise that is under construction to see how they work and there are animations that show this occuring and how they are tied back to the building.

[jn1780]

The Devon cranes don't lift anything near that heavy. What do you think is the heaviest item they have to lift?

[ronronnie1]

You should quickly go inform the engineers working at the site (or otherwise overseeing the construction) about this dangerous flaw in their plan for crane reinforcement--there is still time to avert this impending disaster. Good to know somebody is paying attention!

OMG you are evil!! LOL LOVE it!

[cdbthunder]

About the tower cranes for Devon, I am a bit concerned about the safety of those cranes going higher and higher. From a distance, they appear so skinny and just keep on growing. How is it possible for it to stay erected without toppling over? Are they using cable lines to anchor it on all 4 corners? It is like the red/white towers all over the world being held by cable lines. The same for the cranes?

The Devon tower crane currently stands at 285 feet, but will ultimately top 970 feet. Gavin Kalley, project vice president with Holder, said the crane extends another 120 feet (equivalent to 10 stories) into the ground, where it is anchored into bedrock. They can carry a maximum load of 22,000 pounds. They may seem fragile relative to what their height is and how much weight they are transporting but that is a long ways into the ground and fastened to bedrock.

[Thunder]

ourulz, I saw that video the other night on Gone In Seconds.

I will email Devon to let them know about the cranes, winds, and tornadoes. Possibly earthquakes...

[kevinpate]

You go Thunder!

[ourulz2000]

ourulz, I saw that video the other night on Gone In Seconds.

I will email Devon to let them know about the cranes, winds, and tornadoes. Possibly earthquakes...

You do that buddy!!!

[EBAH]

So, that is one side tied to the tower, but what about the other side? Tied to the tower prevent it from falling down away from the tower, but if there is no ties for the other side, the wind/weight can push it onto the tower.

Not to heap on the criticism, but........ I'm pretty sure when they say "tied", they are referring to a rigid bracing structure of some kind, not a loosely tied rope. Think of a person standing firmly planted on the ground using an arm to brace themselves against a wall. I assume, the tie is providing an additional support position, and ensuring that any kind of swaying, vibration etc, is shared by both tower and crane in the same direction, at the same frequency, to avoid contact. You really dont have to have a very large structure provided that it is well placed (they have engineers for these questions), to prevent an already well designed tower (or in this conversation, crane) from toppling.

So basically I agree with SkyWestOKC,

I wouldn't worry about it, they know what they are doing.