Design Analysis of the Wooden Palanquin Used in Yamunotri Dham

Abstract

Palanquins or Palkis are a part of most of the pilgrimages in India. They are primarily used where the terrain is hilly and difficult to trek. In most of the places, these are manufactured locally using wood, cane, or metal pipes. Historically, Palkis were exclusively used by the royal families and the affluent as a mode of travel. In modern times, its use is limited to ceremonies and pilgrimages. This paper analyses the traditional design of one such palki used in the pilgrimage to the Yamunotri Dham situated in the state of Uttarakhand in India. The palki used there is made of Pine Wood which is sourced locally. A 3D CAD model of the palki was made using the dimensions obtained from a porter. The model was then imported into a Finite Element Analysis software. After considering the proper contact conditions based on the actual assembly, the structural analysis was carried out on the model. The primary objective of the analysis was to find out whether the existing design was safe or not. The terrain slope was also considered in the loads applied during the analysis. It was found that the design was marginally safe up to a load of 75 kgs. However, since the properties of wood are inconsistent, a higher factor of safety is recommended. Further improvements in the design could be suggested, considering the ergonomic and sustainability factors.