Numerical Investigation of the Earthquake Response of Rearing Jib Tower Crane Made of Composite Materials with the Adoption of Joint Dampers

Tower cranes are highly vulnerable to seismic excitation owing to their slender geometry and pronounced dynamic behaviour. Although carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) materials offer significant lightweight potential, and damping devices are widely adopted for seismic protection, their combined application to tower cranes has received limited attention. This study numerically investigates the seismic response of a rearing jib tower crane equipped with a CFRP jib and base joint dampers. A finite element model was developed and analysed under four critical operating configurations through static structural, modal and response spectrum analyses in accordance with the Italian Building Code (NTC 2018). The performance of the CFRP solution was compared with that of a conventional steel crane, while two damper configurations with different stiffness values were also assessed. The proposed lightweight design reduced the total crane mass by 34% and the jib weight by 77%. Compared with the steel configuration, the CFRP solution decreased static displacements by 38–56% and equivalent stresses by 22–44%. Under seismic loading, the adoption of joint dampers reduced the maximum equivalent stress by up to 35%, while increasing structural displacements by 5–19% because of the lower support stiffness. The results demonstrate that combining CFRP lightweight design with seismic damping devices effectively improves the earthquake performance of tower cranes while maintaining structural safety.