Siliguri: Citing the transformative power of stainless steel in urban infrastructure, the Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (ISSDA) launched first edition of India’s Stainless Steel Bridge Design manual, recommending the metal as the standard material for bridge construction. The Stainless Steel Bridge Design Manual, authored by former Director, STUP Consultants Pvt Ltd, Dr Nirmalya Bandopadhyay, was released on the occasion of the Indian Roads Congress’ (IRC) 228th mid-term council meeting here in Siliguri, West Bengal. The design manual will come handy to engineers and academicians across India, advancing engineering and technological capabilities.
The manual highlights and serves as a compendium of knowledge, meticulously curated to cover everything from the fundamental properties of stainless steel to the most advanced design principles. It also emphasizes the overall life cycle cost of a bridge and how using stainless steel to construct a bridge often proves to be more economical, especially in corrosive environments where traditional materials including coatings does not perform well in such environments. Additionally, the application of stainless steel helps in progressing towards carbon neutrality due to its inherent sustainable properties.
Commenting on the occasion, Executive Director, Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (ISSDA), Mr Rohit Kumar, said, “We are delighted to present this one-of-a-kind Stainless Steel Bridge Design Manual. It is not merely a guide but a testament to the transformative power of stainless steel in our infrastructure. The manual provides deeper understanding of the technical intricacies of stainless steel design and help structural consultants and designers to build durable, sustainable, safe and light weight structures. I am confident that it will promote wider acceptance of stainless steel as the preferred material for bridge construction due to its impressive strength-to-weight ratio, extended life expectancy of 120 years, and optimal lifetime cost.”
Adding to it, author of the handbook, Dr Nirmalya Bandopadhyay, said, “This manual is a significant step towards revolutionizing the way we approach bridge construction in India. Our country has a coastline of more than 7,500 km. Hence, the use of stainless steel will be crucial in mitigating losses due to corrosion. This manual is bound to act as a catalyst in the research and innovation of bridge engineering in India. I encourage all structural designers, architects, academicians, and engineering students to go through it to understand the versatile nature of stainless steel and how it is one of the safest input materials.”
Indian Road Congress (IRC), the country’s apex body of highway engineers, was set up in 1934 on the recommendations of the Indian Road Development Committee with the objective of road development in India. IRC provides a national forum for sharing knowledge on the entire range of subjects dealing with the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, tunnels as well as road transportation, including technology, equipment, research, planning, finance, taxation, organization, and related policy issues.
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