Seismic behavior of a jumbo container crane including uplift

Despite their importance to successful port operations, container cranes have received little attention in the context of seismic behavior. This paper presents the results of scale testing and analysis of a typical jumbo container crane subjected to earthquake loading. A series of 1:20 scale shake table tests of the model structure is performed under increasing levels of acceleration to assess and characterize the critical responses. Complimentary detailed nonlinear finite element time history analyses are also carried out. It is found that the portal frame response dominates elastic behavior and is closely coupled with an uplift and derailment rocking-type response at higher excitation levels. Proposed analytical models can capture this coupled response well, while a simple pseudostatic analysis can accurately estimate the onset of uplift and derailment.