  We investigate the formation process of nonlinear vibrational modes
representing broad H-bridge multi--site breathers in a DNA--shaped double
strand.
  Within a network model of the double helix we take individual motions of the
bases within the base pair plane into account. The resulting H-bridge
deformations may be asymmetric with respect to the helix axis. Furthermore the
covalent bonds may be deformed distinctly in the two backbone strands.
  Unlike other authors that add different extra terms we limit the interaction
to the hydrogen bonds within each base pair and the covalent bonds along each
strand. In this way we intend to make apparent the effect of the characteristic
helicoidal structure of DNA. We study the energy exchange processes related
with the relaxation dynamics from a non-equilibrium conformation. It is
demonstrated that the twist-opening relaxation dynamics of a radially distorted
double helix attains an equilibrium regime characterized by a multi-site
H-bridge breather.
