How to calculate life span of steel structure? for example, crane?
this type of calculation is a fatigue life calculation, performed (for example) on aircraft. You will have to know the material, the load spectra and the stresses for this load spectra. It is not an easy, nor exact calculation. Try reading some fatigue topics on the reports suggested on the source site.
With bridges that you would be able to calculate an anticipated lifespan. It is going to now not be very particular. You measure the deflection as a given load goes over it. You also measure deflection with average site visitors.You are taking measurements of what normal visitors is. With this knowledge that you would be able to undertaking lifespan and prefer exchanging bridges earlier than they crumple. Once I was once a engineering student I had a summer time job serving to to experiment bridges.Most bridges and gigantic constructions are designed to are living 50 years I believe. For constructions I have no idea of any measurements you would take. I think it is most often a matter of periodic inspections. The things to seem for are basis problems, cracking of concrete, exposed re-bar, concrete flaking off etc.
To calculate it, you would need to know all of it's dimensions, the average loads that will be applied to it daily, the natural conditions which the structure is exposed to, the carbon content of the steel as well as the manner in which the raw steel was produced AND the manner in which the crane was assembled. Even with this data it would still be an extremely generalized calculation.