Finite element simulation of vertical temperature gradients in a standard W40×235 steel beam

Abstract

A finite element analysis was conducted in this research to understand the distribution of temperatures along with the depth of the standard steel W40×235 beam. The considered thermal loads were those of open environments, including the radiation of the sun and the temperature of the air in addition to wind movement. The thermal analysis considered the total solar radiation, ground reflected radiation, longwave radiation, mutual surface radiation and heat convection as the thermal boundary loads. The analysis was carried out for the experimentally recorded conditions of a sunny summer day. The results showed that the vertical temperature gradient approaches zero with stabilized beam temperature after midnight and up to the sunrise. On the other hand, the vertical temperature gradients at the top and bottom surfaces continuously increase with time reaching their maximum values at approximately 2:00 PM. The maximum temperature gradients at the top and bottom surfaces of the beam were 10.2 and 9.1 °C for the conditions of the investigated day.