A demand exists for rugged load cells for measuring large loads associated with the anchoring of floating platforms and large vessels at sea. This has often been met by the inclusion within the restraining system of tensile link type load cells. The feasibility of a replacement pin load measuring device acting in a shear situation has been found to offer significant advantages. Shear Pin Load Cells have been manufactured ranging in size and capacity from the very small (30mm diameter, 150mm long, 3kg in weight and rated full load of 2.5 tonnes) to the very large (200mm diameter, 1000mm long, 300kg in weight and rated fill load of 1000 tonnes). They are usually installed as a replacement for standard parts of machines and structures such as an axle, swivel pin, link or shackle pin. The larger pins have been used in Mooring Load Monitoring Systems (MLMS) for large oil tankers and the towing of North Sea platforms. Pins are more normally installed in cranes, winches, lifts and hoists to measure the loads in cables passing over wheels, sheafs or rotary fairleads, and in the anchorage of guys supporting masts and towers. This paper presents the results of the investigation of a real world problem where the Boundary Element solution highlights the shortcomings of simplified solutions and led to the development of a new approach.

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