How to Design a Hoisting Plan for Large UHPC Artistic Forms?

The design of hoisting plans for large-scale UHPC artistic forms is a systematic safety engineering task involving "structural safety, deformation control, process sequence, and risk contingency planning," which must follow the principles of "calculation first, simulation verification, and steady implementation." The core of Qinglong Group's specialized hoisting plans for landmark projects such as the large UHPC sculptures at the Shanghai Astronomy Museum and the giant "Red Lantern" at the Wuhan Han Show Theatre lies in precise force analysis, rational lifting point design, dedicated lifting devices, and standardized operating procedures, ensuring that artistic components weighing dozens or even hundreds of tons are lifted smoothly and positioned precisely.

Pre-hoisting structural verification and lifting point design are prerequisites for safety. The hoisting plan must be designed based on the component's actual weight, center of gravity position, and structural strength. Qinglong uses finite element software to simulate the entire hoisting process, analyzing the internal forces and deformation of components under different working conditions such as lifting, translation, and positioning, to ensure that their strength and stiffness meet requirements. The placement of lifting points is critical: they must be located at rigid parts of the component (such as stiffening ribs or main steel frame nodes) and reliably connected to the component through pre-embedded dedicated lifting devices (such as lifting bolts or steel plates). The number and layout of lifting points must keep the component stable during hoisting and avoid excessive bending stress.

The application of dedicated lifting devices and spreader beams is key to ensuring stability. For irregularly shaped components with eccentric centers of gravity, directly using wire ropes for hoisting may cause the component to tilt or create localized stress concentration. Qinglong often uses a "spreader beam" (also known as a "carrying beam") combined with multiple sets of chain hoists for lifting. The spreader beam changes the direction of force, allowing multiple slings to bear the load evenly and ensuring the component is lifted horizontally. Chain hoists allow workers to fine-tune the component's attitude in the air, achieving precise alignment. All lifting slings, shackles, and other rigging must have adequate safety factors and be inspected regularly.

Standardized operating procedures and contingency plans are fundamental to risk avoidance. Hoisting operations require a detailed construction organization plan that clarifies personnel assignments, command signals, hoisting sequence, and weather requirements. A "trial lift" procedure must be executed: the component is slowly lifted 100-200mm off the ground, then paused to check all lifting points, rigging, and component conditions, and the formal lift proceeds only after everything is confirmed correct. Meanwhile, a comprehensive contingency plan must be formulated to address possible emergencies such as sudden weather changes and equipment failures. Only by putting safety first and planning meticulously can the hoisting of large-scale UHPC artistic forms be guaranteed without fail.