Horizontal lifelines – review of regulations and simple design method considering anchorage rigidity |
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Authors: | Bertrand Galy André Lan |
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Institution: | Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et Sécurité du Travail (IRSST), Canada |
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Abstract: | Among the many occupational risks construction workers encounter every day falling from a height is the most dangerous. The objective of this article is to propose a simple analytical design method for horizontal lifelines (HLLs) that considers anchorage flexibility. The article presents a short review of the standards and regulations/acts/codes concerning HLLs in Canada the USA and Europe. A static analytical approach is proposed considering anchorage flexibility. The analytical results are compared with a series of 42 dynamic fall tests and a SAP2000 numerical model. The experimental results show that the analytical method is a little conservative and overestimates the line tension in most cases with a maximum of 17%. The static SAP2000 results show a maximum 2.1% difference with the analytical method. The analytical method is accurate enough to safely design HLLs and quick design abaci are provided to allow the engineer to make quick on-site verification if needed. |
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Keywords: | horizontal lifeline design method anchorage flexibility SAP2000 fall tests wire rope deflection |
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