Set to be one of the longest highways in the country, the Narmada expressway is a proposed eight-lane expressway in Madhya Pradesh. However, being close to many rivers, numerous cross-sections over lakes are consistent throughout the project.
The expressway features long-span bridges and tunnels passing through undulating terrain, rivers, and cities, compounded by challenging climate conditions. LN Malviya bid on the project and initially used conventional methods for conceptual design.
However, they quickly realized they needed advanced 3D modeling and analysis technology to optimize alignment and geometry of the long-span bridge and high-speed highway design.
Solutions that Paved The Way
The LN Malviya Infra Projects Pvt Ltd selected Bentley’ OpenRoads Designer to model roadway alignment, and Open- Bridge and STAAD to model the bridge structure and analyze hundreds of load combinations, ensuring the bridge could resist high water currents and wind pressure.
Bentley’s applications improved overall design efficiency by 25 percent and boosted productivity by 40 percent, reducing bridge design time by 200 hours and saving costs and resource hours. The integrated solution provided accurate geometric calculations and streamlined coordination, facilitating clear communication of design intent and technical management throughout the project development stage.
About the Product
LN Malviya Projects used three products from the Bentley Systems; the OpenRoads Designer which is primarily used for roads and highways, the OpenBridge which is used for various types of Bridges and the STAAD Pro which is an advanced 3D structural analysis and design software.
OpenRoads Designer
Provides a platform for plan and construction documentation, surveying, stormwater design and analysis, visualization, geotechnical, underground utilities, and detailed roadway design.
OpenBridge
Offers new 3D parametric modelling design environment, capabilities for surveying, drainage, subsurface utilities, roadway design and site design.
STAAD Pro
Simplifies concrete and steel BIM workflow by using a physical model in STAAD Pro that automatically converts into the analytical model for structural analysis.
Challenges in the mix
Due to the complexity and expansive nature of the project, challenges were imminent.
1. Undulating terrain.
2. Roads going through rivers and cities.
3. Challenging climatic conditions.
4. Difficult to use conventional methods of design.
5. The need of 3D modelling.
