Abstract
Uneven temperature distribution in a structural element constitutes one of its load factors. Temperature fields occurring in structural elements lead to stresses and strains. The values of internal stresses are directly related to temperature distribution and degree of freedom for element deformation. The best way to get information about temperature distribution in an element is to take measurements on a real object. Such measurements have been run or are still taken over decades in various parts of the world, e.g. in Western Europe, USA, China, South America. In a number of cases, such examinations were carried out for objects constructed in warm or hot climate. It is a lot harder to find the results of measurements made in the countries with moderate and transitional climate, like in the Central or East-Central Europe. This paper presents measurement methodology and results gained for a large steel bridge located in the East European Plain, about 52.5° N northern latitude. Permanently installed contact sensors, temporary sensors, as well as pyrometry and thermography were used. An attempt was made to determine temperature distribution in a steel box girder of a bridge using thermovision technique. Approximate temperature distribution patterns in the main span girder were determined from thermal photographs taken. The most important results of examinations are the images of temperature fields in the main span girder related to solar radiation that first and foremost directly affects the bridge deck.
Highlights
Bridge temperature measurements are quite well referenced in the literature and have relatively long tradition (Albrecht, Mangerig & Zichner, 1992; Chen, 2008; Emerson, 1977; Ostapenko, Daniels, and Fisher, 1975; Prakash, 1986; Priestley, 1978; Zobel & Sobala, 2002)
It should be mentioned that elements of steel bridge structures may heat up to a higher temperature than those of concrete structures, on the other hand, the latter demonstrate higher heat capacity
The investigation results of temperature distribution in various bridges over the world are available, and the main knowledge gap, which the authors tried to bridge partially by means of research work outlined in this paper, consists in the lack of available measurement results for uneven heating of steel bridge constructions in Central and Eastern Europe
Summary
Bridge temperature measurements are quite well referenced in the literature and have relatively long tradition (Albrecht, Mangerig & Zichner, 1992; Chen, 2008; Emerson, 1977; Ostapenko, Daniels, and Fisher, 1975; Prakash, 1986; Priestley, 1978; Zobel & Sobala, 2002). Bridge monitoring systems, described among others by Wenzel (2009) or Inaudi (2009), are generous data sources about temperatures in various points of structures These systems include modules for measurements of forces, strains, displacements, environmental impacts (wind); they comprise temperature sensors for both air and structural components. Point-wise temperature measurements with, for instance, two sensors located in the uppermost and lowermost points of a girder cross-section enable to find temperature difference in extreme fibres of a girder, which is already a component of structure load considered in the static analysis Modelling of such load could not be considered correct if its distribution along the girder height is not known more precisely
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