A Review on Design, Analysis, and Optimization of Jib Crane Systems

Jib cranes have wide usage in material handling operations where factors such as structural efficiency, capacity to carry loads, stiffness, and stability are considered in design. This review paper aims at presenting a comprehensive review on recent developments in the design, analysis and optimization of jib crane systems. From the review of literature, it can be seen that the use of modern engineering technologies such as FEA, CAD, and mathematical models has made structural design accurate thus reducing uncertainties involved in the design process. Studies show that the use of advanced materials such as composite materials, high strength alloys, and prestressed materials has been instrumental in reducing the self-weight and vertical deflections of structures without affecting their structural strength. Studies that compare various beam sections have shown that the right selection of section has been important in improving the load carrying capacity of jib cranes. In addition, other recent trends in modular manufacture, topology optimization and smart monitoring have added to cost savings, safety, and predictive maintenance of jib cranes. In general, the combination of advanced materials, computational modeling, and design approaches has made jib cranes more reliable, efficient, and lightweight while future research focuses on automation, IoT-based monitoring and AI-based optimization of crane.