Application scenarios of crane outrigger pads

Simply put, crane pads are important safety components laid under cranes, especially mobile cranes such as truck cranes and crawler cranes, to distribute pressure and provide a stable and solid foundation.
Its core function is to “carry” and “stabilize”, ensuring that the crane will not sink, tilt or capsize when lifting heavy objects.

Main functions and core uses
Distributed grounding voltage ratio
Problem: The weight of the crane (especially the crawler crane) plus the weight of the lifted object is very large, and these weights will be concentrated on a very small area through the crawler or support legs, generating extremely high “ground pressure” (pressure per unit area).
Function: The outrigger pad disperses the huge concentrated load of the crane onto a larger area of soil and ground through its larger surface area, significantly reducing the actual pressure on the ground and preventing it from being crushed.
Provide a stable and sturdy work platform
Problem: Natural ground (such as soil, sand, backfill soil) is often soft and uneven, with poor and uneven load-bearing capacity. Directly supporting the legs on this ground can easily cause the crane to sink or settle unevenly, resulting in the tilting of the machine body.
Function: The hard outrigger pads create a flat and sturdy temporary “foundation” on soft ground, providing a reliable point of force for the crane’s legs and ensuring the level and stability of the body.
Prevent overturning and ensure safety
Problem: During lifting operations, especially when the boom is extended for a long time and the weight is rotated, the crane will generate a huge overturning moment. If the ground foundation is not firm and the support legs sink, the crane may lose balance and overturn, which is an extremely serious safety accident.
Function: The use of outrigger pads with sufficient strength and size is a key step in preventing such accidents and is a mandatory requirement in the safety regulations for lifting operations.
2、 Application scenarios
Crane pads are crucial in the following scenarios:
Soft ground operations: such as soil, sand, backfill areas, lawns, etc. This is the most commonly used scenario for outrigger pads.
Uneven ground: Even if the ground itself is hard, if it is uneven, it needs to be leveled with outrigger pad to ensure that all legs are evenly stressed.
When it is necessary to protect the ground:
Protecting asphalt or cement pavement: Without outrigger pads, the legs or tracks of the crane can cut or crush the pavement like knives, causing significant damage. Cushions can effectively disperse pressure and protect the road surface from damage.
Working indoors or in sensitive areas, such as factories, data centers, and other areas with limited floor load-bearing capacity or requiring protection.
After severe weather: The ground becomes soft and the load-bearing capacity drops sharply after rain, and outrigger pads must be used to ensure safety.