Codal Validation and Optimization of Gantry Girders Under Variable Wheelbase and Impact Loads: A Review of Analytical, Numerical, and Codal Approaches

Year : 2025 | Volume : 12 | Issue : 03 | Page : 23 29
    By

    Geeta R. Surashe,

  • Rahul S. Patil,

  • Yugandhara R. Sonawane,

Abstract

Gantry girders serve as critical structural elements in industrial facilities such as steel plants, workshops, and heavy manufacturing units, where electric overhead traveling (EOT) cranes operate. The design of these girders is governed by stringent codal provisions to ensure safety under bending, shear, and deflection. However, discrepancies between codal predictions, analytical formulations, and finite element analysis (FEA) results, particularly under variable wheelbase and dynamic impact loads, have been widely reported. This review consolidates research spanning three decades on codal validation, empirical analysis, STAAD/FEA modelling, and optimization strategies for gantry girders. Studies reveal that codal provisions, while ensuring safety, often result in conservative designs, particularly concerning deflection limits and impact allowances. Variable wheelbase significantly influences deflection, bending stress distribution, and fatigue behavior, yet limited codal guidance exists. Optimization frameworks, raging from empirical and codal-based methods to metaheuristic algorithms such as genetic algorithms (GA), demonstrate potential material savings of 10–25% without compromising safety. Serviceability, fatigue, and detailing considerations, including stiffeners, lateral-torsional buckling, and thermal stresses, have been explored in literature; however, current codal provisions remain underdeveloped. This paper critically reviews these contributons, identifies research gaps, and proposes future directions incorporating AI-driven design, digital twin modelling, and integrated codal-optimization approaches.

Keywords: Gantry girders, codal validation, variable wheelbase, impact load, STAAD.Pro, FEA, optimization, deflection, fatigue

[This article belongs to Journal of Offshore Structure and Technology ]

How to cite this article:
Geeta R. Surashe, Rahul S. Patil, Yugandhara R. Sonawane. Codal Validation and Optimization of Gantry Girders Under Variable Wheelbase and Impact Loads: A Review of Analytical, Numerical, and Codal Approaches. Journal of Offshore Structure and Technology. 2025; 12(03):23-29.
How to cite this URL:
Geeta R. Surashe, Rahul S. Patil, Yugandhara R. Sonawane. Codal Validation and Optimization of Gantry Girders Under Variable Wheelbase and Impact Loads: A Review of Analytical, Numerical, and Codal Approaches. Journal of Offshore Structure and Technology. 2025; 12(03):23-29. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/joost/article=2025/view=225967


References

1. A. Gupta, R. Sharma, Codal validation of gantry girders. J. Struct. Engineering. 2006; 33(2), 145–152p.
2. A. Mohamed, H. Abdelwahab, Codal vs finite element evaluation of gantry girders. Eng. Struct. 2002; 24(7), 981–988p.
3. D. Patel, A. Mehta, Empirical vs numerical validation of gantry girder design. Int. J. Civil Engineering Research. 2014, 5(2), 34–40p.
4. C. Lee, Serviceability evaluation of gantry girders in IS and Eurocode, Steel Compos. Struct., 2016, 20(3), 265–273p.
5. J. Smith, P. Carter, Wheel load distribution in gantry girders, Proc. ICE, 2008, 161(4), 203–210p.
6. R. Narayan, S. Bhatia, Variable wheelbase analysis of gantry girders, Int. J. Steel Struct., 2015, 15(2), 112–119p.
7. M. Khan, V. Singh, Impact load consideration in EOT crane gantry girders, Indian J. Struct. Eng., 2007, 40(1), 55–61p.
8. L. Zhou, H. Wang, Crane braking effects on gantry girders, Eng. Struct., 2023, 280, p. 115678.
9. A. Torres, B. Silva, R. Gomez, Parametric optimization of crane girders, Finite Elem. Anal. Des., 2013, 64, 30–38p.
10. S. Zuberi, A. Khan, P. Mishra, Optimization of gantry girders using genetic algorithms, Comput. Struct., 2009, 87(15), 955–963p.
11. R. Jain, P. Agrawal, Codal conservatism in IS 800 for gantry girders, J. Struct. Steel Res., 2009, 65(9), 1758–1764p.
12. F. Hussain, Cost-effective design of gantry girders using STAAD, Int. J. Civ. Struct. Eng., 2019, 10(2), 89–96p.
13. S. Gupta, R. Kulkarni, Fatigue assessment of gantry girders, J. Perform. Constr. Facil., 2017, 31(6), p. 04017085.
14. Y. Zhao, Experimental fatigue study of crane girders, J. Constr. Steel Res., 2012, 72, 170–179p.
15. A. Rashid, Dynamic fatigue effects on gantry girders, Finite Elem. Model. Struct. Eng., 2025, 45(2), 223–235p.
16. L. Martinez, Effect of stiffeners on gantry girder shear resistance, J. Steel Struct., 2011, 11(1), 45–54p.
17. A. Khan, Lateral torsional buckling of gantry girders, Struct. Eng. Int., 2020, 30(2), 215–223p.
18. P. Das, S. Roy, Crane impact factors in IS codes vs practice, Struct. Eng. J., 2018, 42(4), 302–310p.
19. H. Yoon, S. Kim, Machine learning approach for gantry girder optimization, Autom. Constr., 2020, 118, p. 103283.
20. A. Fernandez, Hybrid FEA-GA optimization of crane girders, Eng. Optim., 2018, 50(11), 1910–1925p.
21. Ahmed, Application of empirical influence line methods in gantry girder design, Struct. Eng. Rev., 2005, 22(3), 145–152p.

Regular Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 12
Issue 03
Received 22/08/2025
Accepted 29/08/2025
Published 30/08/2025
Publication Time 8 Days
76

Login


My IP

PlumX Metrics