Engineering Aspects of Howrah Bridge at Kolkata (1943)

Book excerpt: Howrah Bridge is an iconic engineering structure of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) and is in excellent condition after 78 years of extensive use. The bridge is a balanced cantilever structure, has a central span of 457 meters, used 26,500 tons of high-grade steel and was entirely fabricated at Kolkata to a high precision as a riveted structure. The bridge is an example of the high-quality work that went into bridge building in earlier years and offers unique design and detailing features. This current book covers all the engineering aspects of the structure explaining planning, design of superstructures, substructures and foundations along with fabrication and erection with a separate section on special features. Aimed at civil and bridge engineering students and graduate engineers, professionals, practicing structural engineers and also heritage structure enthusiasts, this book offers a detailed case study and a thorough description of a well-known and iconic bridge. It covers the planning process to design and construction aspects. It discusses conceptual design aspects and alternatives considered at the time of construction. It explains the planning of the foundations in a clayey silt river bed, subject to tidal variations, the design and construction of foundations, and illustrates the fabrication of steel work and the use of pre-cambering principle.