KL Deemed to be University, India’s leading University, has announced that its second year B. Tech students have successfully built a prototype of a hydraulic bridge as part of their skilling courseproject. The team, consisting of Mr. Shahul Hassan Shaik, Mr. Shaik Tahammul Hussain and Mr. Racharla Rithvik Sai from the Department of Civil Engineering, created a functional model that was used to test the design solutions effectiveness before building the final product or system.

A hydraulic vertical lifting bridge is a type of bridge designed to allow large vessels, such as ships, to pass beneath it. The bridge comprises a large deck raised and lowered using hydraulic cylinders powered by a hydraulic pump. When a ship needs to pass beneath the bridge, the deck is raised to create clearance for the vessel.

The students used materials such as iron sheets, plywood dowels, plastic tubing, a syringe or small pump, a hot glue gun, scissors, or a craft knife to create the prototype. The model's design included sketching out the bridge's design in AutoCAD, deciding the dimensions of the movable span, towers, or piers, and lifting mechanism.

Dr. G.Pardha Saradhi Varma, Vice Chancellor of KL Deemed to be University said “We are proud of our students for their exceptional work in building a functional prototype of the hydraulic bridge. This project-based learning approach enables students to apply their theoretical knowledge to practical solutions and prepares them for real-world challenges. At KL Deemed to be University, we encourage our students to develop hands-on skills and innovative thinking to make a difference in the world.”

“Our design for the hydraulic bridge was inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, who was a pioneering designer of bascule bridges, and Blaise Pascal, who is known as the father of hydraulic systems. Our team has also won 2ndprize in an event Model Presentation in an engineering College annual festival held at Vijayawada. The prototype is almost at its completion stage, and we are working on for its implementation,” said Shahul. The project was created under the supervision and mentoring of Dr. Anu Mary Ealias and Mr. J. D. Chaitanya Kumar, faculty members at KL Deemed to be University.

The Department of Civil Engineering at KL Deemed to be University has been successfully conducting activities embracing Testing, Planning, Design, Construction, and Management since its establishment in 1980. The department offers a flexible syllabus for students post-graduation in specializations such as Structural Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Construction Technology, and Management.