Abstract
Thermal load, especially vertical temperature gradient is an important factor that should be considered during the bridge design procedure. In the world several researches focusing on thermal influences was performed, mostly in USA and China, but only a few analysed real measured cross-section temperature gradient at European bridges. In this paper, the temperature field along two decisive cross-section of concrete box girder bridge caused by heat of hydration or exposure to sunlight has been investigated by field monitoring. The measured temperature gradients has been compared to the Slovak bridge design eurocode.
Highlights
The variations of temperature affects bridges significantly
Thermal load, especially vertical temperature gradient is an important factor that should be considered during the bridge design procedure
The temperature field along two decisive cross-section of concrete box girder bridge caused by heat of hydration or exposure to sunlight has been investigated by field monitoring
Summary
The variations of temperature affects bridges significantly. Uniform temperature changes cause large total length changes, expansion or contraction. These changes of length influence internal forces, structural dynamic characteristics and the continuous expansion and contraction may damage critical members of the bridge, such as expansion joint, bearing and anchor head. If these deformations are restricted, temperature variations result in thermal stresses, what may leads to unexpected tensile cracks and consequent possible reinforcement corrosion. Vertical and horizontal temperature difference result in additional bending moments in vertical plane and horizontal plane, respectively
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