Analysis of Key Factors and Implementation Points for Lifting Plans of Super-Large GRC Shaped Elements

Hoisting Super-Large GRC Shapes: A Full-Dimensional Analysis from Technical Challenges to Safe Implementation

At the intersection of contemporary architectural aesthetics and engineering technology, super-large GRC (glass fiber reinforced concrete) shapes have become the material of choice for landmark building envelope design, thanks to their lightweight, high-strength and freeform characteristics. However, hoisting such components can be described as “precision surgery” in the engineering world: it requires pushing the boundaries of structural mechanics while also balancing construction safety and efficiency. As an industry technology leader with 28 years of full-chain experience in UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP, Qinglong Group will systematically break down the core points of super-large GRC shape hoisting from four dimensions: material properties, scheme design, equipment selection, and risk control.

I. Compatibility Design Between Material Properties and Hoisting Schemes

Super-large GRC components typically feature “large dimensions, irregular shapes, and lightweight construction,” and their hoisting schemes must first be built on a deep understanding of material performance. Through the composite of glass fibers and cement-based materials, GRC achieves a flexural strength of over 20MPa and a surface density only 1/4 that of natural stone, but this also places special requirements on lifting point design. In the Dongguan Women and Children’s Activity Center project, Qinglong innovatively adopted the “four-point balanced hoisting method” for double-curved GRC curtain wall panels with an 8-meter span, using BIM models to simulate stress distribution and controlling lifting point deviations within ±2mm, ensuring no plastic deformation of components during lifting.

II. Building a Systematic Engineering Mindset for Hoisting Schemes

A scientific hoisting scheme must integrate three key elements: structural calculation, equipment configuration, and process planning. In the Nanjing East Road Century Plaza renovation project, Qinglong’s technical team faced translucent GRC shape components weighing up to 5 tons and adopted a “staged hoisting” strategy: first using a 250-ton truck crane to complete the vertical transfer of components from ground to air, then achieving millimeter-level precise positioning through a hydraulic synchronous lifting system. During the scheme design phase, ANSYS finite element analysis was specially introduced to simulate structural stability under force-12 typhoon conditions, avoiding resonance risks in advance. Notably, as a participating unit in drafting the “Technical Standard for Building Application of Glass Fiber Reinforced Cement (GRC)” (JGJ/T423-2018), Qinglong’s hoisting schemes always comply with the industry standard that “the dynamic load factor shall not be less than 1.5.”

III. Collaborative Application of Special Equipment and Intelligent Technology

Hoisting super-large GRC places “high-precision, cutting-edge” demands on equipment systems. The 360-degree full-slewing truck crane at Qinglong’s Nanning production base has a maximum lifting height of 80 meters, and combined with the self-developed “intelligent hoisting monitoring system,” it can collect 12 key parameters in real time, including sling tension and component inclination. In a landmark project in Malaysia, 3D laser scanning technology enabled “zero-error docking” between GRC components and the main structure, with installation accuracy reaching ±3mm—a 40% efficiency improvement over traditional methods. This “hardware + software” technology integration capability is precisely the core competitive strength of Qinglong as a national specialized and innovative enterprise.

IV. Full-Process Risk Control and Emergency Response System

Safety is the lifeline of hoisting operations. Qinglong has established a three-level risk prevention and control mechanism covering “design-production-installation”: during the detailed design phase, all lifting nodes undergo 1.2-times ultimate load testing; in production, RFID chips are used for component quality traceability; and before on-site installation, components must pass a triple verification of “hoisting drill-load testing-environmental assessment.” For emergencies such as typhoons and rainstorms, Qinglong has compiled special contingency plans covering 23 items, including emergency reinforcement schemes and backup hoisting routes. In a 2023 Zhuhai project, these plans successfully withstood force-11 strong winds, safeguarding GRC components worth over 10 million yuan.

From the irregular GRC curtain wall of Canton Tower to the super-large sunshades of the Shanghai International Convention and Exhibition Center, Qinglong Group’s 28 years of engineering practice have proven that successful hoisting of super-large GRC shapes is essentially a cross-disciplinary fusion of materials science, structural mechanics, and engineering management. As a participant in industry standard-setting and a driver of technological innovation, Qinglong has always maintained a “meticulous, excellence-pursuing” attitude, providing designers and owners with full-chain solutions from detailed design to after-sales maintenance, ensuring that every imaginative architectural concept can be safely realized. Today, as UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials are increasingly widely applied, professional hoisting technology will continue to serve as the key to unlocking the boundaries of architectural aesthetics.