Lifting Lug Design Spreadsheet: A Useful Tool for Engineers
Lifting Lug Design Spreadsheet: A Useful Tool for Engineers
Lifting lugs are devices that are welded to a structure or equipment to allow it to be lifted by a crane or other lifting mechanism. They are commonly used for lifting pressure vessels, tanks, piping, and other heavy components. Designing lifting lugs requires careful consideration of the geometry, material, loading, and failure modes of the lug and the joint.
Fortunately, there are some useful tools available online that can help engineers with the design and verification of lifting lugs. One of them is a spreadsheet that follows the Air Force Method as documented in the Stress Analysis Manual of the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory (FDL) [^2^]. This spreadsheet allows for analysis of lifting lugs under axial, transverse, or oblique loading. It also provides results for female lugs and double shear joint strength. The spreadsheet can be downloaded from MechaniCalc.
Lifting Lug Design Spreadsheet
Another spreadsheet that can be useful for engineers is the one developed by mec Engineering Spreadsheets [^1^]. This spreadsheet verifies some configurations of lifting lugs and padeyes based on different references, such as AISC Engineering Journal and Germanischer Lloyd Edition. It also includes different welding types and graphical views of the lug and welding. The spreadsheet can be purchased from mec Engineering Spreadsheets.
A third spreadsheet that can assist engineers with lifting lug design is the one created by ExcelCalcs [^3^]. This spreadsheet is based on the AISC Design Guide 7: Industrial Buildings - Roofs to Anchor Rods (Second Edition). It determines the ultimate strength of the lifting lug based on several checks and applies the desired factor of safety to obtain allowable loads. The spreadsheet can be downloaded from ExcelCalcs.
Lifting lug design is an important aspect of engineering that requires attention to detail and accuracy. Using these spreadsheets can help engineers save time and ensure compliance with relevant standards and codes. However, these spreadsheets are not a substitute for professional judgment and experience. Engineers should always verify the results and assumptions of any calculation tool before using it for design purposes.In addition to these spreadsheets, there are also some online resources that can provide examples and guidance on lifting lug design. One of them is a website called What Is Piping [^1^], which offers a detailed article on lifting lug design with examples in PDF format. The article covers the types of lifting lugs, the design methodology, the failure modes, and the design calculations. The article can be accessed from What Is Piping.
Another online resource that can help engineers with lifting lug design is a website called MechaniCalc [^2^], which provides a comprehensive reference on lug analysis. The website explains the different methods of analyzing a lug, such as the simplified analysis, the Air Force Method, and the ASME BTH Method. It also provides equations, diagrams, and examples for each method. The website can be accessed from MechaniCalc.
A third online resource that can assist engineers with lifting lug design is a PDF document by PDHonline.com [^3^], which offers a lesson on the design and evaluation of overhead lifting lugs. The document covers the basic concepts of lug design, such as geometry, material, loading, and failure modes. It also provides an example problem with detailed calculations and illustrations. The document can be downloaded from PDHonline.com.
Lifting lug design is a complex and critical task that requires careful attention to detail and accuracy. Using these online resources can help engineers gain a better understanding of the theory and practice of lifting lug design. However, these resources are not a substitute for professional judgment and experience. Engineers should always verify the results and assumptions of any online tool or resource before using it for design purposes. 0efd9a6b88