The Chenab Bridge, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stands as a testament to modern engineering and the dedication of numerous individuals. Among those who played a crucial role is Professor Madhavi Latha, a civil engineering professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. She dedicated 17 years to the project, providing her expertise in rock engineering and slope stabilization.
Professor Latha's involvement began when Northern Railways and Afcons, the project's contractor, enlisted her as a consultant. Her primary responsibilities included advising on slope stabilization and bridge foundation design. Given the challenging terrain and the need for the bridge to withstand harsh natural conditions for over a century, her expertise was critical. The bridge, built across a gorge in the Reasi district, is the world's highest railway arch bridge, soaring 359 meters above the riverbed – 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower. Its impressive 1,315-meter length and 467-meter steel arch are a marvel of engineering.
IISc proudly acknowledged Professor Latha and her team's contribution, specifically highlighting their work on slope stability, foundation design and construction, and the design of slope stabilization systems, including rock anchors. The complexity of the project required a "design as you go" approach. Initial investigations provided inadequate data on rock types, spacing, and orientation as engineers excavated the rocks. This meant constant adaptation and modification of the designs to account for the actual geological conditions encountered. One significant challenge was constructing arch abutments and foundations for piers on the steep slopes. The discontinuity among the rocks raised concerns about stability, which were addressed through cement grouting with rocks and steel rods. In some instances, the foundations had to be shifted from their originally planned locations.
Professor Latha's expertise extends beyond this landmark project. Her research interests encompass fundamental aspects of soil and ground reinforcement, with a focus on understanding shear mechanisms at a micro level. She employs image-based techniques to study micro-topographical surface changes in geosynthetics, linking these changes to macro-level strength improvements. Her work also includes the study of friction characteristics between soils and reinforcement and understanding the strength of improved ground. She also has an active interest in rock engineering including numerical modelling of jointed rock masses, stability analysis of rock slopes, and rock slope reinforcement.
Professor Latha's academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from IIT Madras, an MTech degree from NIT Warangal, and a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from JNT University, Kakinada. Before joining IISc, she served as an Assistant Professor at IIT Guwahati and as a postdoctoral researcher at IISc. Her contributions to the field have been recognized with several awards, including the Best Woman Researcher in Geotechnical Engineering award from the Indian Geotechnical Society, the Prof. S. K. Chatterjee Outstanding Researcher Award of IISc, the Woman Achiever Award by the Karnataka Book of Records, and the SERB POWER Fellowship. She is also listed among the Top 75 Women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) in India.
Beyond her research and consultancy work, Professor Latha is actively involved in the academic community. She served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Indian Geotechnical Journal published by Springer from 2016 to 2022 and currently serves as an Associate Editor for several journals, including the ASCE Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Geotextiles and Geomembranes, and the International Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Engineering. She has authored numerous journal articles and book chapters.
