Theoretical Analysis of Temperature and Shrinkage Stresses of Box-Girder Section

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze the temperature and shrinkage stresses of the mid-span cross-section of a 20 meters box girder to find the reasons which cause the longitudinal cracks in the web and bottom of box girder. According to the results of damage inspeation, there are many longitudinal cracks in the web and bottom slab of box girders, especially the web of the edger beam, the crack is very clear. Ansys ver.10 software is used to analyze two dimensional finite element model of a typical cross section of a real bridge to calculate the temperature stresses caused by temperature difference between inside and out side of the box and the shrinkage stresses based on moisture diffusion. The results of analysis show that the outer surface of the web and bottom slab of the fabricated box girder will produce tensile stress at the effect of negative temperature difference. If the concrete reaches a certain age, the tensile stress does not cause creaks in the cross-section. The shrinkage stress changes with the moisture gradient in the box section. It will reach the maximum in 15 days and then decreases with the growth of the age. Shrinkage stress may cause cracking of the concrete surface because of the tensile strength is low in the early age.