Temporary works & site · Cranes & lifting
Precast pile lifting & pitching moments calculator
A square precast concrete pile lifted horizontally at two points (0.207L from each end, equal hogging and sagging) and pitched from one point (0.293L from the head) to upright it under the leader. Compares the handling moments (with impact) with the cracking moment of the section.
Standard: AS 3600 Cl 8.6 cracking moment · precast pile handling practice (2-point 0.207L, 1-point pitch 0.293L) · impact factor
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Inputs in the worked example
The live calculator starts with these values; change any of them and every result, check and diagram updates instantly.
| Input | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Pile size (square) | 350 | mm |
| Pile length | 15 | m |
| Concrete strength at handling f'c | 40 | MPa |
| Impact factor | 1.5 | |
| Main bar yield | 500 | MPa |
| Main bars | 4 | |
| Bar diameter | 20 | mm |
| Cover to bar centre | 55 | mm |
Worked example — results
| Result | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Self-weight w | 2.94 | kN/m |
| 2-point lift moment (0.0214wL² × impact) | 21.2 | kNm |
| 1-point pitch moment (0.0429wL² × impact) | 42.6 | kNm |
| Cracking moment Mcr (0.6√f'c) | 27.1 | kNm |
| Ultimate moment (one face of bars) | 70.9 | kNm |
- ✓ Two-point lift: M ≤ Mcr (uncracked handling) — 78 %
- ✗ Pitching: M ≤ Mcr — 157 %
- ✓ Pitching: M ≤ φMu — 60 %
Method, formulas and assumptions
- Two-point lift at 0.207L from each end equalises hogging and sagging: M = 0.0214wL². One-point pitching at 0.293L from the head: M = 0.0429wL². Both multiplied by the impact factor.
- Cracking moment uses f'ct.f = 0.6√f'c on the gross section (AS 3600 Cl 3.1.1.3); ultimate uses half the bars in tension with lever arm 0.9d.
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For preliminary design and education. Check every result against the current standard and your own engineering judgement before use.