Lifting Lug Design with Examples (PDF)

A Lifting lug is a plate with a hole in it. As the term specifies, lifting lugs are used for lifting. The hole is sized to fit a clevis pin. Using lifting lugs combined with the clevis pins, loads are transferred from one mechanical component to another. For mechanical static equipment (Fig. 1), these lifting lugs are used by cranes for transportation and installation.

While lifting this mechanical equipment, the lugs must be able to carry the complete weight of the equipment. Also, while transporting and installing various kinds of forces act on those lifting lugs. Hence, the lifting lug design has to be accurate enough to avoid any failure. In this article, we will briefly explore the lifting lug design methodology.

Lifting Lug Arrangements for lifting Vessels

Fig. 1 below shows the lifting lug arrangements that are attached to pressure vessels for industrial use.

Lifting Arrangements for Vessels
Fig. 1: Lifting Arrangements for Vessels

Lifting Lug Shapes

Lifting lugs can be of various shapes as shown in Fig. 2. The shapes are decided by manufacturers.

Shapes of Lifting Lugs
Fig. 2: Shapes of Lifting Lugs

Lifting Lug Arrangements for Horizontal Vessels

Fig. 3 shows widely used industrial lifting arrangements during construction for horizontal vessels.

Lifting Arrangements for Horizontal Vessels
Fig. 3: Lifting Arrangements for Horizontal Vessels

Lifting Arrangements for Leg-Supported Vessels

Fig. 4 shows typical lifting arrangements popularly used for vertical vessels in industries.

Lifting Arrangements for Vertical Vessels
Fig. 4: Lifting Arrangements for Vertical Vessels

Forces in Lifting Lug Design

Horizontal to vertical lifting Forces:

Horizontal to vertical lifting Forces Calculations:

Horizontal to vertical lifting Forces Calculations with Sample Problem:

Lifting Lug design Standard

ASME BTH-1 “Design of Below-The-Hook Lifting Devices.” governs the design of lifting lugs for industries. For producing a safe reliable design, This is the most widely used lifting lug design standard. However, As such standards do not clearly address the local stress calculation steps, Finite Element Analysis is performed using various software like Ansys, PV-elite, etc.

Lifting Lug Design

Lifting lug design is very critical and hence mostly done using FEA software. The basic design of a lifting lug consists of the following four parts;

  1. the design of the lug plate,
  2. verifying the weld used to connect it to a shell or structure,
  3. checking the bearing stress at the pin-hole and
  4. confirming the end area of the lug.

The following image shows the parts of a Pad-Efe Lifting Lug.

Part of a typical lifting lug
Part of a typical lifting lug

In the following section, we will see the design methodology followed for lifting lug design using PV-Elite software.

Lifting Lug design Thickness calculations:

PV Elite Forces and sign Conventions:

PV Elite Lifting Lug Sample Example

This presentation is prepared by Mr. Deepak Sethia who is working in ImageGrafix Software FZCO, the Hexagon CAS Global Network Partner in the Middle East and Egypt. He has extensive experience in using Caesar II and PV Elite software and troubleshooting.

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Anup Kumar Dey

I am a Mechanical Engineer turned into a Piping Engineer. Currently, I work in a reputed MNC as a Senior Piping Stress Engineer. I am very much passionate about blogging and always tried to do unique things. This website is my first venture into the world of blogging with the aim of connecting with other piping engineers around the world.

6 thoughts on “Lifting Lug Design with Examples (PDF)

  1. Dear Sir,

    would you like to share basic design calculation of the lifting lugs shown in figure number-4 (Different types of Lifting Arrangements:) in your blog page.

    your prompt reply is highly appreciable.

    Thanks & Best Regards,
    Dinesh Patel
    dp220209@gmail.com

  2. Hi Sir,
    please send me a excel sheet for design calculations if possible. My mail is chatrapathikrishnaji@gmail.com

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