Rigorous Testing Underway For Namma Metro’s Open Web Girder Strength

A rigorous testing regime is underway for Namma Metro’s Purple line, specifically focusing on the strength and durability of the open web girder (WWG) installed along the Salem railway line near Benniganahalli. As part of this critical assessment, sandbags are being placed on the metro train to simulate passenger loads, ensuring the girder’s bearing capacity aligns with international safety standards. Intriguing questions about the girder’s performance under varying weights and pressures are being explored. The primary objective is to ascertain whether the girder is capable of effectively supporting passenger loads during regular operation, without any compromise to safety. The trial is meticulously designed, with sandbags – equivalent to the combined weight of a full passenger load – distributed across six carriages on two tracks.  One of the critical aspects being assessed is the girder’s span – whether the application of such weight generates any unintended movement or instability. This rigorous examination will continue until August 19, and initial reports suggest that the trial has been relatively successful. Trains have been operated under the girder during the assessment period, yielding no significant concerns. However, as is customary, the technical engineering department of BMRCL is actively engaged in making minor improvements and implementing necessary changes to enhance the structure’s resilience. The open web girder under scrutiny was installed in February, and this extensive testing phase marks its final evaluation. The girder spans an impressive 65 meters in length, boasts a width of 11,450 meters, stands at a height of 650 meters, and bears a weight of 550 tons. A specially designed spherical bearing type mechanism ensures its stability and flexibility.