Transverse thermal stresses in concrete box cross‐sections due to climatic exposure

Abstract

AbstractSpatial and temporal temperature variations in a concrete structure due to variations in the surrounding climate will produce movements which, if restrained, may induce stresses in the structure. To get a better understanding of transverse thermal stresses due to climatic effects in concrete box cross‐sections, the FE simulations in this study have been performed using extensive climatic input data directly or by using simplified methods to simulate the temperature and resulting stress fields in a section of the hollow concrete arch of the New Svinesund Bridge. Studies of other cross‐sections with varying depth, width and wall thicknesses have also been performed to investigate the geometrical influence. The results reveal an overestimation of the maximum thermal tensile stress when using a linear temperature differential approach compared with the direct use of climate data that includes the non‐linear part of the temperature distribution. The effect of depth, width and orientation is negligible compared with variations in thickness between slabs and walls. For box sections with slabs/walls having different thicknesses, the transverse thermal stresses will be significantly larger in the thinner members, irrespective of the actual orientation and position of the member.