Strength Evaluation of Connectors for Intermodal Containers

Published

August 1, 2000

Author(s)

Hai S. Lew, Fahim Sadek, E D. Anderson

Abstract

Intermodal containers are used widely in marine cargo handling. In order to facilitate unloading of empty containers from ship to shore, two containers are lifted frequently in tandem. This operation is referred to as vertical tandem lifting. In this lifting process, the lower container is attached to the upper container by means of interbox connectors at the four corners of the container. During the vertical tandem lifting operation, if one or more connectors are disengaged the bottom box may be separated from the upper box, thereby creating an unsafe condition to workers below. This safety concern prompted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to request the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to study the suitability of the use of of interbox connectors for the vertical tandem lifting.The NIST study included site visits to port facilities and laboratory tests of interbox connectors. Test specimens included semi-automatic twistlocks and latch locks. The experimental program included testing of twistlocks in tension, twistlock and latch lock assemblies with corner fittings in tension and compression, and shafts of twistlocks for the stress-strain relationship. In addition, measurements were made of the bearing area of the top and bottom cones of twistlocks and the latch on the inner surface of the corner fitting.

Citation

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 6557

Report Number

6557

NIST Pub Series

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

container, corner fittings, interbox connectors, latch locks, marine transportation, twistlocks, vertical tandem lifts

Citation

Lew, H. , Sadek, F. and Anderson, E. (2000), Strength Evaluation of Connectors for Intermodal Containers, NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=860301 (Accessed October 18, 2025)