Simplified PDF – Overhead Crane Wheel Loads (Rmax
/ Rmin)
Example based on your table values (Span = 7.5 m, Capacity = 10 t). Generated: 2026-02-17
1) What are Rmax and Rmin?
In crane catalogues, R usually means wheel load (vertical force on a single wheel). Rmax is the largest
wheel load that occurs in the worst trolley position (typically the trolley as close as possible to one end).
Rmin is the smallest wheel load that occurs at the same worst position (the opposite end becomes lighter).
2) Inputs from your table (highlighted row)
Parameter Value Notes
Safe working load (rated lift) Q 10 t Rated lifted load (not always included in the shown R-values
Crane span L 7.5 m Distance between runway rails.
R1max, R2max 7.9 t, 6.5 t Max reactions (as shown in your earlier sheet).
R1min, R2min 2.8 t, 1.4 t Min reactions (same).
Rail (Kren ray■) 55 mm Runway rail size / designation in your sheet.
3) Quick check: total vertical load from reactions
For a simply supported bridge, the sum of the two support reactions equals the total vertical load on the
bridge (for that case). Your sheet provides consistent pairs:
Pair (same trolley position) Sum Interpretation
R1max + R2min = 7.9 + 1.4 9.3 t Total vertical load for that condition
R2max + R1min = 6.5 + 2.8 9.3 t Same total (check)
Result: In that calculation set, the total vertical load on the bridge is about 9.3 t. This is typically the crane
deadweight + trolley/hoist portion used by the catalogue assumption (often 'crane without lifted load',
depending on note *7).
4) Convert to wheel loads (most common runway design need)
Most overhead cranes have 4 wheels (2 wheels per end carriage). If the value you use is a support
reaction per end carriage, the load per wheel at that end is approximately reaction/2. Using your extremes:
Case End reaction Wheels at that end Approx. load per wheel
Heavier end (max) 7.9 t 2 7.9 / 2 = 3.95 t per wheel
Lighter end (min) 1.4 t 2 1.4 / 2 = 0.70 t per wheel
5) How Rmax is calculated (general method)
Treat the crane bridge as a simply supported beam of span L. Loads are typically split into: (a) distributed
deadweight of the bridge, and (b) a moving concentrated load from trolley + hoist + lifted load. With a
concentrated load P located at distance x from the left support:
Reactions from a single point load:
R_left = P · (L − x) / L
R_right = P · x / L
If the bridge self weight is a uniform load w (kN/m), its reactions are: R_left,w = R_right,w = w·L/2. Total
reactions are the sum of contributions.
Dynamic factor (ψ)
Catalogue / code calculations often apply a dynamic factor ψ to the lifted load and sometimes to trolley
mass. Example: P_moving = ψ · (Q + G_trolley). You previously had ψ = 1.2.
6) Worked example template (fill-in)
Use this template when you know (or assume) the trolley approach distance and the trolley mass:
Symbol Meaning Units Your value
L Span (runway rail spacing) m 7.5
Q Rated lifted load kN or t 10 t
G_t Trolley + hoist weight (moving mass) kN or t (from hoist data)
ψ Dynamic factor - 1.2 (example)
w Bridge self weight per meter kN/m (from crane weight / span)
x Trolley position from left support m (from L10/L11 / hook approach)
Step A – moving point load:
P = ψ · (Q + G_t)
Step B – reactions:
R_left = w·L/2 + P·(L − x)/L
R_right = w·L/2 + P·x/L
Step C – wheel load (if 2 wheels per end):
Wheel_left ≈ R_left / 2 , Wheel_right ≈ R_right / 2
7) Notes for using catalogue values safely
• Many catalogues state that wheel loads are calculated using the heaviest hoist option and the worst
trolley position.
• Check note *7 ('Crane without hoist'): sometimes the listed wheel loads exclude the hoist, so you must
add it separately.
• For runway beam and column design, always use the maximum wheel load and also include horizontal
loads (Hs, Hm) if provided.
If you send the trolley/hoist weight and the approach dimensions (L10/L11 or hook approach), I can fill the template
with exact numbers and generate an updated PDF matching your exact crane configuration.