ENGINEERING LESSONS: EPISODE 21 - INNOVATIVE IDEA TO REDUCE THE METRO VIADUCT HEIGHT
Innovative Idea to reduce the Metro Viaduct Height
- Usual metro rail
viaduct’s deck width will be in the range of 8.8 to 10.5m, which can be
easily accommodated within the 1st lane of underneath traffic.
- If the 1st lane
on both side of the underneath traffic is restricted with height
constrains for vehicular traffic (say 3.0m), then the vertical profile can
be lowered.
- The vehicle's
with height greater than the restricted height can use the other lanes.
- This will
ultimately help in saving the pier quantity w.r.t to concrete & steel.
- This will also help in reduction of design forces for the substructure and foundations; since the height of pier is reduced.
Constraints in implementing the Idea
- In cities where
the alignment has to cross much road intersection, this ideology will not
provide sufficient head room clearance. Because in such case the vertical
profile need to be lower/rise; but the allowable gradient for rails will
not have any room for it.
- This can’t be
adopted for highway bridges whose deck width is comparatively more than
metro rail viaduct.
- Can’t implement in
cities where poor traffic management & traffic rules violators.
