Temperature Field of Concrete-Filled Steel Tubular Arch Bridges and Its Application

Abstract

This study aimed to reveal the evolution rule and influence mechanism of temperature field and its effect of long-span concrete-filled steel tubular arch bridges in a plateau area. The temperature field and its effect of large-diameter concrete-filled steel tubular arch bridges under strong radiation, hydration heat, and large temperature difference were studied using the ANSYS transient thermal analysis method. The optimization method on transverse perfusion sequence and perfusion-time interval considering temperature effect was proposed based on stress influence line, equivalent age theory, and energy method. Results showed that the temperature field along the radial direction distributes as a symmetrical three-segment polyline with an influence depth of D/4 under ambient temperature and hydration heat, and it distributes as an asymmetric three-segment polyline with an influence depth of D/8 under solar radiation, ambient temperature, and hydration heat, and this is smaller than the specified value of D/4. The maximum temperature on the sunny side is about 20°C higher than that on the shaded side. The influence of solar radiation absorption coefficient and ambient temperature on the maximum temperature gradient and maximum stress is greater than that of wind speed. The optimization method on transverse perfusion sequence and perfusion-time interval considering temperature effect proposed in this paper is reasonable and convenient for engineering applications.