GMW was hired to deliver a trash rack cleaning machine (TRCM) for Nepal’s Chameliya hydroelectric power plant to remove embedded rocks and boulders that accumulate during monsoon season and cause water flow blockages. They typically used traditional design methods; however, for this project, they had to design the individual machine components in isolation, resulting in a significant increase in the weight of the total TRCM. Given that this project required strict weight control, GMW needed software to design an alternative, lightweight solution that could remove the huge sedimentation.

GMW used STAAD.Pro to model and analyze several design options for the innovative cleaning equipment. They conducted load analysis and determined the optimal structural geometry to meet the weight requirements and 15-meter depth reach, reducing the overall weight by 30%, compared to similar excavator machines. The solution saved 20% in costs and doubled the operating life of the equipment while saving vital electrical energy consumption.