The Robotik Gallery in Gujarat, India features a 27-meter steel bridge with no ground support, held up by four cables from above. The bridge's elliptical rings create a roller-coaster walking experience, while the building's curved exterior slopes up to 24 meters. The design used software to optimize the structure, cutting costs and construction time.
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Robotik Gallery is at Gujarat, India. This is one among the 6 Robotik Galleries in the world. Gujarat Council of Science City was set up by the Gujarat government in 1999 aiming to merge science education and entertainment in an attempt to encourage scientific temperament. Robotik Gallery is a part of Science City's second development phase. Hence, this building is the important tourism attraction of the country. This demanded the most beautiful aesthetic appearance. So besides the technical challenges, we decided to add unique features to the building. They comprise of the astonishing connecting bridge which gives a roller coaster feel as one walks over it, which is first of its kind. The very complex fluidic structure, which is again first of its kind and is neither circular nor rectangular and changing at every meter of length. The structure starts from the ground and slopes and curves gradually up to a height of about 24 meters, going around the building. A very complex fluidic structure which is first of its kind. It is neither circular nor rectangular, changing at every meter of length. The structure slopes and curves gradually up to a height of about 24 meters. It goes all around the building. A simplified approach for the wind load calculation was adopted. An approximation was done for applicability of Indian Codal provisions. In this regard, suitable wind force coefficient was calculated depending on various classification of type of structure given in the code. Considering the shape of the structure, wind load is applied from left to right at wind angles in the interval of 25 degrees and from right to left direction for the same wind angle. Wind load is applied as joint loads. Since the structure is sloped and curved, all the wind loads are resolved and applied at the joints. Starting from the concept model where the architect conceptualized the overall aesthetics of the structure to the site-executed version We have developed models using different softwares which made the connection designs, wind load analysis, design and drawings, and the quantity estimate way easier. The Robotik Gallery stands majestic with the gigantic fluidic structure waving all around it, balancing all the forces. It's meant to resist. What a pride in seeing the site-executed pictures. These are the images of the very common and less opted steel connecting bridge with no aesthetic attraction and the robotic gallery connecting bridge. Ever had an experience of walking in the air at great heights? Want such an experience? Experience? Walk into the Robotik Gallery and you will find the Connecting Bridge giving you this wonderful experience. It is obvious why would we choose a normal bridge over such an experience, that too in a place of tourism importance. Connecting Bridge is a steel bridge which connects one side to the other of the second floor of the Robotik Gallery. The connecting bridge is set for people movement to have an experience of atrium below. The width of the bridge is 2.5 meters and span of the bridge is 27 meters. There are elliptical rings spaced at 2 meters center to center of the bridge to give an aesthetic appearance. The most critical challenge was the design with conditions of speed span of 27 meters and conditions of support with no direct ground support. And the solution was to provide 4 hanger supports from the truss above. The workflow between the developed model and the design stages are shown here. Undertaking this challenge gave us the satisfaction of providing the first of its kind bridge to the valuable customer. The site picture is also presented here. What is a tourist spot without a roller coaster feel? The connecting bridge will give you one, as you can see from the picture executed at site. Value additions were in terms of aesthetics, uniqueness, optimized design, cost saving, ease of construction, and pride of the nation.
