Lining trolleys, primarily used in tunnel construction for the secondary lining process, are critical pieces of equipment that ensure the quality, efficiency, and safety of concrete lining. Their design specifications are complex and tailored to the specific demands of tunneling projects.

Lining Trolley Design Specifications

Lining trolleys

I. Core Functions and Types

Before diving into specifications, it’s crucial to understand the fundamental roles and variations of lining trolleys:

Primary Function: To support the formwork (shuttering) for cast-in-place concrete linings, or to position and install precast concrete segments for the inner wall of a tunnel. They help achieve the required surface shape, size, and finish of the tunnel lining.

Types (based on functionality, tunnel shape, and construction method):

Cast-in-Place (CIP) Trolleys: Most common, these carry large steel formwork sections. Concrete is pumped behind the formwork, and once cured, the trolley strips the formwork and moves to the next section.

Full-Round Formwork Trolley: For circular or near-circular tunnels, supporting the entire cross-section (invert, walls, arch).

Arch (or Crown/Sidewall) Formwork Trolley: For horseshoe or D-shaped tunnels, where the invert is cast separately.

Telescopic Formwork Trolley: Sections retract inwards for efficient movement through previously cast lining.

Precast Segmental Lining Trolleys (Segment Erectors): Used in TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) tunnels, they transport, position, and install precast concrete segments.

Self-Propelled vs. Towed: Some have their own drive systems, others are moved by external machinery.

Rail-Mounted vs. Wheeled: Depending on the tunnel floor conditions and required stability.

Lining trolleys

II. Key Design Specifications and Considerations

The design of a lining trolley must balance structural integrity, operational efficiency, adaptability, and safety.

For more detailed information on the design specifications for lining carts, please click here:https://www.gf-bridge-tunnel.com/a/blog/lining-trolley-design-specifications.html

In modern tunnel construction, the tunnel lining trolley—also known as a formwork trolley or lining formwork system—is a crucial piece of equipment used to support and shape the inner concrete lining of tunnels. As tunnels are built in various geological conditions and for different purposes (such as transportation, mining, or water conveyance), the choice of lining trolley can significantly impact construction efficiency, structural quality, and overall project cost.

Considerations for Selecting Tunnel Lining Trolley

tunnel lining trolley

Choosing the right lining trolley is crucial for the efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness of any tunnel project.

Tunnel Dimensions and Geometry (Cross-section and Length):

Tunnel Cross-section: The shape and size of the tunnel (e.g., circular, horseshoe, rectangular, large-span, small-span) will dictate the formwork design and, consequently, the type and dimensions of the lining trolley. Different trolleys are designed for highway tunnels, railway tunnels, subway sections, water diversion tunnels, etc., each with specific lining length capabilities (e.g., 4.5m to 15m).

Lining Length: The required length of each concrete lining segment will influence the trolley’s design and capacity. Longer segments can reduce casting cycles but require a more robust and possibly longer trolley.

Inclination/Slope: For inclined shafts, specialized trolleys with four active wheels or hydraulic wheel-less structures are needed to handle the steep slopes.

Level of Automation and Control:

Manual vs. Hydraulic vs. Smart/Automated: Lining trolleys range from simple, manually operated systems to fully hydraulic automatic walking trolleys and even “smart” trolleys with integrated automatic pouring, vibrating, and monitoring systems.

Efficiency and Labor Cost: Highly automated systems can significantly improve working efficiency, reduce labor intensity, and accelerate lining speed, but come with a higher initial investment. Simple trolleys might be suitable for shorter tunnels or projects with less stringent timelines.

Precision and Quality: Advanced systems offer better control over the concrete pouring process, minimizing defects like voids, insufficient thickness, and cracks, leading to a higher quality tunnel lining.

For more details on the five key factors to consider when selecting a lining carriage for tunnel projects, please click here:https://www.gf-bridge-tunnel.com/a/blog/considerations-for-selecting-tunnel-lining-trolley.html

Abnormal noise in a double-row ball slewing bearing can indicate a range of issues, from minor lubrication problems to significant component damage. Addressing the noise promptly is crucial to prevent further damage and ensure the longevity of the bearing and the machinery it supports.

Diagnosis of abnormal noise of double-row ball slewing bearing

double-row ball slewing bearing

Here are the common methods to solve abnormal noise in double-row ball slewing bearings, categorized by their underlying causes.

I. Addressing Lubrication Issues:

Insufficient Lubrication: This is one of the most common causes.

Solution: Regularly add the appropriate type and amount of grease. Follow the manufacturer’s recommended lubrication schedule. If the bearing has been dry for a while, it may require more frequent lubrication initially.

Poor Quality or Aged Grease: Grease can degrade over time, losing its lubricating properties.

Solution: Clean out the old, contaminated, or degraded grease and replace it with fresh, high-quality lubricant suitable for the bearing’s operating conditions (temperature, load, speed).

Uneven Grease Filling: Inadequate or uneven distribution of grease can lead to localized friction and noise.

Solution: Ensure the grease is evenly distributed throughout the raceway during lubrication. Running the bearing for a few rotations after greasing can help with distribution.

II. Resolving Contamination and Debris Problems:

Foreign Particles: Dirt, dust, metal shavings, or other debris entering the bearing can cause friction, wear, and noise. This often results in a “dust sounding” or “rattling” noise.

Solution: Disassemble the bearing (if feasible and necessary), thoroughly clean the raceway and rolling elements, and remove all foreign matter.

Prevention: Improve sealing arrangements to prevent contaminant ingress. Regularly clean the surrounding area of the bearing.

For more detailed information on how to resolve abnormal noise in double row ball slewing bearings, please click heren: https://www.mcslewingbearings.com/a/news/double-row-slewing-bearing-noise-diagnosis.html

Double-row slewing bearings are critical components in heavy machinery, designed to handle significant axial, radial, and moment loads while enabling rotational movement. Due to the demanding environments they operate in, they are susceptible to various faults. Understanding these common issues and their solutions is crucial for maintaining equipment performance and longevity.

Common Faults of Double-Row Slewing Bearings

Double-Row Slewing Bearings

Abnormal Noise (Clicking, Grinding, Squealing, or Rattling):

Causes:

Insufficient or Improper Lubrication: Lack of grease, deteriorated grease, or using the wrong type of lubricant.

Foreign Objects in Raceway: Dust, dirt, metal particles, or other debris entering the bearing.

Severe Raceway or Rolling Element Wear: Pitting, spalling, or other damage due to fatigue, corrosion, or contamination.

Loose Mounting Bolts: Allowing movement between the bearing and its mounting surface.

Poor Meshing of Gears: Improper clearance between the slewing bearing’s gear and the pinion, or damaged/broken teeth.

Bearing Overload: Exceeding the bearing’s design load capacity.

Internal Faults: Such as a damaged cage, inner/outer ring, or balls.

Symptoms: Loud, unusual sounds during rotation, especially under load.

Lack of Flexibility in Rotation (Stiffness, Slow Movement, or Jamming):

Causes:

Insufficient Lubrication: Grease becoming viscous, especially in cold weather, or simply not enough lubrication.

Foreign Objects in Raceway: Blocking the rolling elements.

Overload Operation: Causing damage to the raceway.

Improper Installation: Uneven mounting surface, resulting in uneven force distribution or the bearing being in a negative clearance state.

Damaged Sealing Strips: Allowing foreign objects or moisture to enter.

Bearing Deformation: Due to excessive load or manufacturing defects.

Excessive Clearance: Leading to “wild movement” or looseness.

Symptoms: Difficulty in rotating the slewing platform, jerky movement, or complete inability to rotate.

For more detailed information about common faults and solutions for double-row slewing bearings, please click here:https://www.mcslewingbearings.com/a/news/common-faults-and-solutions-for-double-row-slewing-bearings.html

Replacing a double-row ball slewing bearing is a complex and critical procedure that typically requires specialized knowledge, equipment, and adherence to manufacturer guidelines. It’s not a DIY job for most individuals, especially given the heavy machinery and safety implications involved.

This is a general overview, and you MUST consult the specific manufacturer’s manual for your equipment and bearing model for precise instructions and safety protocols.

Double-row Ball Slewing Bearing Replacement

Double-row Ball Slewing Bearing

I. Pre-Replacement Assessment and Preparation:

Safety First:

Disconnect Power: Ensure the machinery is completely de-energized and all power sources are locked out/tagged out.

Secure the Load: If the bearing supports a structure (e.g., crane boom, excavator arm), secure it properly to prevent accidental movement.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Wear appropriate PPE, including hard hat, safety glasses, gloves, and steel-toed boots.

Stable Position: Ensure the entire machine is in a stable position before starting any work.

Assessment of Existing Bearing:

Thoroughly inspect the old bearing for signs of wear, damage, corrosion, or any other issues that might have led to its failure. This can provide insights into potential root causes.

Check for loose bolts, seal integrity, and any abnormal noises or movements.

Gather Necessary Tools and Equipment:

Heavy-duty lifting equipment (cranes, forklifts, hoists).

Torque wrenches (calibrated for high torque values).

Specialized tools for removing and installing large bolts.

Feeler gauges for checking flatness and gaps.

For more information on how to replace double row ball slewing bearings, please click here:https://www.mcslewingbearings.com/a/news/double-row-ball-slewing-bearing-replacement.html

Double-row slewing bearings are crucial components in many heavy-duty machines, and noise can be a significant indicator of an underlying problem. Troubleshooting the noise involves a systematic approach to identify the cause and implement the correct solution.

Double row slewing bearing noise troubleshooting

Double-row slewing bearings

1. Identify the Type of Noise and When it Occurs:

Normal Sounds: A new slewing bearing might produce a soft, uniform rolling sound of steel balls. This is usually normal and may fade after some rotation.

Abnormal Loud Noise: This indicates a problem and requires attention.

Grinding, Popping, Clicking, or Cracking: These are strong indicators of issues.

When does it occur?

New Bearing (before/after installation): Could be slight deformation from transport or improper installation.

Bearing in Service (after some use): Likely wear, lubrication issues, contamination, or loose components.

Under Load vs. No Load: Helps differentiate between issues related to stress and more general problems.

2. Initial Checks (General Troubleshooting):

Confirm the Source: Is the noise definitely coming from the slewing bearing? Sometimes, noises from other steel structures or components can be mistaken for bearing noise. Try stopping the slewing ring’s rotation while other components continue to work to isolate the sound.

Lubrication: This is often the first and easiest thing to check.

Lack of Grease: Insufficient or aged grease can cause rolling elements and separators to rub, creating noise. Timely greasing (every 100-250 hours of operation, or more frequently in harsh conditions) can often eliminate this.

Inspect Purged Grease: When you pump new grease into the bearing, observe the old grease that is purged out. If you see grit, metal particles, or flakes, it indicates wear or contamination.

Incorrect Lubricant: Using the wrong type of grease or one with unsuitable viscosity can also lead to poor lubrication and noise.

Oil Leakage: Check for signs of oil leakage, which can indicate damage to seals or improper lubrication practices.

For more detailed information on how to troubleshoot noise problems with double-row slewing bearings, please click here:https://www.mcslewingbearings.com/a/news/double-row-slewing-bearing-noise-troubleshooting.html

Seismic design of steel structures is based on several key principles aimed at ensuring life safety, minimizing damage, and maintaining functionality during and after an earthquake. These principles leverage the inherent properties of steel, such as its strength and ductility.

Seismic Design Principles for Steel Structures

Steel Structures

Ductility and Energy Dissipation (Inelastic Behavior):

It’s generally not economical to design structures to remain purely elastic during a major earthquake. Instead, the design philosophy allows for controlled inelastic deformation (yielding) in specific, pre-determined locations within the structure.

Steel is an excellent material for this due to its high ductility, meaning it can deform significantly beyond its elastic limit without fracturing.

This inelastic deformation dissipates seismic energy, reducing the forces transmitted to the rest of the structure and the building’s contents.

This is often achieved through the formation of “plastic hinges” in beams or other designated “fuse” elements.

Capacity Design:

This is a crucial principle that ensures a hierarchy of strength within the structural system. The idea is to force inelastic action (energy dissipation) to occur in ductile elements (e.g., beams, special connections) while ensuring that brittle elements (e.g., columns, foundations, critical connections) remain elastic and retain their strength.

This prevents a sudden and catastrophic collapse. For instance, in moment-resisting frames, the “strong column-weak beam” concept is applied, where columns are designed to be stronger than the beams framing into them, ensuring that plastic hinges form in the beams rather than the columns.

Steel Structures

Redundancy:

A redundant structural system provides multiple load paths, meaning if one element or path fails, the loads can be redistributed to other elements, preventing progressive collapse. This enhances the overall robustness of the structure under seismic loading.

For more detailed information on the principles of seismic design for steel structures, please click here:https://www.meichensteel.com/a/news/seismic-design-principles-for-steel-structures.html

Prefabricated steel structures have become a popular choice in modern construction due to their strength, durability, and cost-effectiveness. One of the most common questions buyers and contractors have is about the price per ton of prefabricated steel. The price per ton of prefabricated steel structure can vary significantly due to several factors, including the type of steel, complexity of fabrication, project size, supplier, market conditions, and location.

Prefabricated Steel Structure Price Per Ton

Prefabricated steel structures

Based on current information (late 2024 – mid 2025):

Raw Steel Prices: Raw steel prices have fluctuated, with recent figures around $700-$900 per ton. Some sources indicate prices reaching up to $1100 per ton in 2025 due to potential tariffs and market uncertainties.

Fabricated/Structural Steel Prices (including raw material, fabrication, and delivery): You can expect to see prices for structural steel, which includes the raw material, fabrication, and often delivery, ranging from $300 to $750 per ton for certain components or larger projects, though some sources list ranges of $400-$700 per ton for general structural steel. Some suppliers may quote as low as $10-$80 per ton for specific, large-volume components or very basic structures, while others may list a broader range up to $650 per ton.

Installed Prefabricated Steel Structures (including raw material, fabrication, delivery, and installation): When considering the full cost of a prefabricated steel structure, which includes the raw steel, fabrication, delivery, and installation on-site, the price per ton is often incorporated into a per-square-foot cost. However, one source explicitly states that the price per ton of structural steel erected on site (including raw steel, fabrication, delivery, and installation) is around $4,000 per ton.

Important Considerations that influence the price:

Prefabricated steel structures

Project Scope and Complexity: Larger and more complex designs with specialized components will generally have a higher cost per ton.

Steel Grade and Type: Different grades (e.g., Q235, Q345B) and types of steel (e.g., H-beams, I-beams, galvanized) have varying costs.

For more details about the price per ton of prefabricated steel structures, please click here:https://www.meichensteel.com/a/news/prefabricated-steel-structure-price-per-ton.html

The cost per square meter for a steel structure workshop can vary significantly, ranging from as low as $10 to $25 per square foot (approx. $107-$269 per square meter) for basic kits, to $20 to $50 per square foot (approx. $215-$538 per square meter) for fully installed prefab buildings, and even $50 to $200+ per square foot (approx. $538-$2150+ per square meter) for custom-built or industrial-grade structures.

Factors affecting the price of steel structure workshop

steel structure workshop

1. Material Prices:

Steel market fluctuations: Global demand, tariffs, and local availability directly impact the price of steel.

Type and quality of steel: Higher-grade steel offers better durability and strength but comes at a higher cost.

Auxiliary materials: Costs for bolts, welding materials, coatings, insulation, roofing, and foundation materials also add up.

2. Design Complexity and Customization:

Standard vs. custom designs: Simple, standard structures are generally less expensive than custom designs with unique features, layouts, or aesthetics.

Building dimensions: Larger buildings require more materials, but often benefit from economies of scale, leading to a lower cost per square foot for very large structures. However, buildings above a certain width (e.g., 32 feet) may require additional structural support (webbed trussing), increasing costs.

Features and accessories: The number of doors, windows, internal walls, mezzanines, skylights, specialized wall panels, and roof styles (e.g., vertical siding vs. horizontal) all add to the material and labor costs.

Load requirements: Designs that need to withstand specific snow loads, wind loads, or seismic loads will affect the structural design and materials used, increasing costs.

3. Labor Costs:

Regional labor rates: These can vary significantly by location.

Skilled labor availability: Shortages in skilled labor can drive up wages.

Construction difficulty: Complex designs or challenging site conditions can increase labor hours.

Pre-engineered metal buildings (PEMBs): These often speed up assembly and can help lower labor costs compared to traditional construction.

DIY construction: For smaller buildings, this can save on labor but requires expertise.

4. Location and Site Preparation:

Geographical location: Material prices, labor costs, and tax policies differ by region. Remote locations may also incur higher transportation costs.

Site accessibility: Difficult-to-access sites can increase delivery and construction costs.

More about steel structure factory building price comparisons: What affects the cost per square meter? For detailed information, please click to visit:https://www.meichensteel.com/a/news/factors-affecting-the-price-of-steel-structure-workshop.html

The load capacity of a steel structure workshop is not a single, fixed number; it’s a complex calculation that depends on many factors and is determined during the engineering design process to ensure safety and functionality.

Steel Structure Workshop Load Capacity

steel structure workshop

1. Types of Loads:

Dead Loads (Permanent Loads): These are constant and include the weight of the structure itself (steel beams, columns, roof, walls), as well as fixed elements like permanent flooring, ceilings, and fixed equipment.

Live Loads (Variable Loads): These loads change over time and are due to the intended use of the workshop. They include:

Occupancy loads: Weight of people.

Equipment loads: Weight of machinery, tools, vehicles.

Storage loads: Weight of materials, inventory.

Crane loads: If the workshop has overhead cranes, these are significant dynamic loads that need careful consideration.

Environmental Loads: These are natural forces that the building must withstand:

Wind Loads: Forces exerted by wind blowing against the building. These vary with location, building height, and shape.

Snow Loads: Weight of snow accumulation on the roof, determined by local climate and roof slope.

Seismic (Earthquake) Loads: Forces generated by earthquakes, especially critical in seismically active regions.

Thermal Loads: Forces generated by temperature changes causing expansion or contraction of materials.

2. Design Standards and Codes:

Building codes (e.g., ASCE 7 in the US, Eurocodes) provide minimum design load requirements for different types of structures and occupancies. Engineers must adhere to these codes to ensure safety.

Load factors are applied to the expected loads to account for uncertainties and potential extreme events, determining the “design loads” used for sizing structural members.

steel structure workshop

3. Structural Design Considerations:

Structural System: The chosen structural system (e.g., portal frame, truss, frame structure) significantly impacts load distribution and capacity. Portal frames are common for industrial workshops with small to medium spans.

For more detailed information about the load capacity of welding positioners, please click here:https://www.meichensteel.com/a/news/steel-structure-workshop-load-capacity.html