Consequently, ground stability has become a critical issue for their safe utilization. High capacity cranes are the backbone of the heavy construction industry, which, over the last few years, has embraced modularization. This study indicates that the prediction of ground bearing pressure (GBP) beneath outrigger supports from the crane software is reliable but should be increased by 10%. In addition, the soil-mat interaction was simulated with a two-dimensional (2D) axisymmetric model using the finite element analysis (FEA). The experimental data were compared with others obtained from currently common used methods, such as the 2:1 approximation method, Boussinesq equations and the software predictions provided by crane manufacture.

The load data were recorded from the earth pressure cells buried vertically in the ground at two different depths at three critical boom positions with three working radii during the lifting operations. This paper aims to obtain the actual reactions beneath the outrigger supports for a rough terrain crane based on the collections of adequate numbers of experimental data. Over the years, the ground preparation below load-spreading mats supporting the mobile crane has been mainly designed based on crude assumptions or using rules of thumb, due to the lack of reference data regarding the actual loads transferred to the ground. In the Canadian construction industry, mobile cranes, such as rough terrain cranes and crawler cranes are employed to perform lifting for construction projects.

Working radius of crane