During Suharto’s presidency, Indonesia launched into a daring endeavor to remodel the transport dynamics on the island of Java. This ambitious undertaking included the development of an modern road network, including each surface highways and elevated viaducts. However, these modern urban projects often faced enormous challenges because of the bustling traffic below.
Meet Sosrobah, a visionary innovation designed to tackle urban obstacles head-on. The Sosrobah method revolutionized the landscape of elevated bridge construction. A groundbreaking concept was introduced: the power to rotate the concrete arms by 90 degrees after construction was accomplished, easily adapting to the road below. This good adaptation significantly alleviated traffic disruptions and ensured on a regular basis life continued uninterrupted throughout the construction phase.
The good mind behind Sosrobah was Dr. Ir. Tjokorda Raka Sukawati, an Indonesian engineer from Bali who got here up with this concept while implementing a project for PT Hutama Karya (Persero). This endeavor was intended to make Ir. a reality. Wiyoto Wiyono Toll Road in Jakarta, connecting Cawang with Tanjungpriok. Importantly, this initiative covered Jalan Ahmad Yani, an arterial road famous for heavy traffic. In Indonesia, the Sosrobah technique has been incorporated into many significant national projects after Ir. The success of the Wiyoto Wiyono Toll Road, including the Bekasi – Cawang – Kampung Melayu Toll Road and the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Skyway.
Sosrobah’s journey began with the erection of concrete pillars marking the designated route. Then, intricate concrete arms were fastidiously crafted to create a raised road bed, sandwiched between tightly woven lanes and parallel to the prevailing thoroughfare. The transformational turn got here in the subsequent phase. Once these concrete arms were connected, Sosrobah’s technique got here into play, deftly rotating the arms 90 degrees. This groundbreaking feature made it easier for the elevated roadbed to suit harmoniously into the cityscape, effectively avoiding traffic disruption without the necessity for bulky scaffolding.
In the sector of engineering design, Tjokorda used the essential principles of Pascal’s law, which states that fluid pressure is exerted equally in all directions. Combining this law with a mess of variables, the Sukawati Formula was born, named after its creator. The chosen medium, mineral oil, was passed through a hydraulic system controlled by a pump. Hydraulic pressure controlled the movement of oil between two iron discs situated beneath the concrete arms. The application of pressure resulted within the precise lifting and rotation of the concrete arms in accordance with the previously adopted plan.
This modern methodology transformed the means of turning substantial concrete arms right into a easily efficient feat. The pinnacle of Sosrobah’s innovation was a frictionless rotating platform able to supporting significant loads. This innovation played a key role in the event of elevated roads without causing disruption to traffic below.
The impact of this breakthrough reached far beyond Indonesia’s borders, influencing the event of cities throughout Southeast Asia. The scope of this technology has transcended national borders, leaving an indelible mark on the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. The most extensive section of elevated road built using this ingenious methodology finds its home in Metro Manila, specifically the southern a part of the town’s Metro Manila Skyway. 298 supports were installed within the Philippines and 135 in Kuala Lumpur. Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos eloquently praised this innovation, aptly describing it as: “It’s an Indonesian invention, nevertheless it’s also an ASEAN invention. “
