Excavator, the Cream of Structural Design
Introduction
One way to learn design is to observe existing products. By critically observing a design and paying attention to its details, we can trace back the reason for decision making behind the design. My favorite product of structural design is: excavator. It is the cream of structural design. Most of today excavators still carry the legacy of old-school designers who have strong engineering intuition. Their structural details are simple and straightforward yet elegant. Their shapes are balance between strength, functionality, ergonomics, and ease of fabrication.
Komatsu PC 2000
Let’s see one example shown in Figure 1 below: Komatsu PC 2000. This picture was snapped on October 2007 in Kemayoran, Jakarta. It shows the PC 2000 in action. Since I am only interested in its superstructure, I only took some pictures beneath the upper machine (Figure 2, 3, and 4).
Fig. 1. Komatsu PC 2000.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Besides all the knowledge and experience, we also need inspiration to motivate our spirit and drive us forward. When it comes to inspiration, I would like to introduce you to one of the greatest inspirations for me: Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859). The most genius structural designer, engineer, and project manager in heavy construction. The most intense man in the business. He smoked 40 cigars per day and slept 4 hours per day. His designs were years ahead of their time.
Fig. 1. Brunel posing before giant chains for launching of SS Great Eastern.
The Ill-Fated Shaft
Introduction
Once in a while we come across something which is guaranteed to fail before it even exists. It means: wrong design. This is the story of an ill-fated shaft. It happened in 2006. The shaft was driven by a gearbox. It was a shiny brand-new shaft and it failed after only 7 days in service. The remains are shown in Figure 1 below. Why did it fail?
Fig. 1. Debris of the ill-fated shaft.
The Forgotten Padeye
Introduction
One thing often ignored by designers is: material handling. Figure 1 below is picture sent by my friend Rendra. It shows beams which were being transported by trailer truck. What’s wrong in Figure 1?
Fig. 1. Structural beams transported by trailer truck.
