Analysis of the load bearing capacity of scaffoldings used in Poland

Abstract The paper presents static-strength analyses of 120 scaffoldings used on construction sites in Poland in the period 2016-2018. The geometry of each analysed scaffolding was taken from measurements made on the construction sites, and the scaffolding loads were determined on the basis of the standards requirements. The results of scaffolding inventory, surveying measurements, measurements of axial forces in standards, and measurements of scaffolding accelerations during vibrations were used to create numerical scaffolding models. For each scaffolding, buckling load analysis and linear static analysis were performed for four load cases which took into account self-weight, parallel and perpendicular wind actions and service load. On the basis of numerical analyses, it was found that 14 scaffoldings could fail due to loss of stability. For 56 scaffoldings, the ultimate limit state condition was not met in at least one group of components, therefore 47% of tested scaffoldings should not be approved.