How Tower Cranes Work

Tower cranes are a common fixture at any major construction site. They’re pretty hard to miss they often rise hundreds of feet into the air, and can reach out just as far. The construction crew uses the tower crane to lift steel, concrete, large tools - like acetylene torches and generators, and a wide variety of other building materials (Figure 1). When you look at one of these cranes, what it can do seems nearly impossible: Why doesn’t it tip over? How can such a long boom lift so much weight? How is it able to grow taller as the building grows taller? If you have ever wondered about how tower cranes work, then this article is for you. Here, you will find out the answers to all of these questions and more!