Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Temperature gradients in concrete box girder bridge under
effect of cold wave
GU Bin(顾斌) 1 , CHEN Zhijian(陈志坚) 2 , CHEN Xindi(陈欣迪) 3
1. College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China;
2. School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China;
3. College of Harbour, Costal and Offshore Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
© Central South University Press and SpringerVerlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014
Abstract: The temperature distributions of a prestressed concrete box girder bridge under the effect of cold wave processes were
analyzed. The distributions were found different from those under the effect of solar radiation or nighttime radiation cooling and
should not be simplified as one dimensional. A temperature predicting model that can accurately predict temperatures over the cross
section of the concrete box girder was developed. On the basis of the analytical model, a twodimensional temperature gradient
model was proposed and a parametric study that considered meteorological factors was performed. The results of sensitivity analysis
show that the cold wave with shorter duration and more severe temperature drop may cause more unfavorable influences on the
concrete box girder bridge. Finally, the unrestrained linear curvatures, selfequilibrating stresses and bending stresses when
considering the frame action of the cross section, were derived from the proposed temperature gradient model and current code
provisions, respectively. Then, a comparison was made between the value calculated against proposed model and several current
specifications. The results show that the cold wave may cause more unfavorable effect on the concrete box girder bridge, especially
on the large concrete box girder bridge. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the thermal effect caused by cold wave during the
design stage.
made based on heat transfer theory and field observation
1 Introduction data worldwide. Early studies of temperature effects on
bridges generally focused on the temperature
Concrete bridge structures are subjected to thermal distributions or stresses for different forms of bridges by
effects due to the interaction with the environment. The using field data or numerical simulation method.
interaction with daily climate changes will cause DILGER et al [2] studied temperature distribution and
nonlinear temperature distributions in the structure temperature stress of a composite bridge based on field
while the interaction with seasonal variations in ambient test data, and subsequently, ELBADRY and GHAIL [3]
air temperature will cause average temperature changes. developed a finite model to predict the temperature
Temperature variation is a major cause of movements in distribution over bridge cross sections from data related
a concrete bridge. If these movements are restrained, to the geometry, location, orientation, material and
large forces may develop and these forces sometimes climate conditions. KENNEDY and SOLIMAN [4]
cause damage. proposed a simple but realistic vertical temperature
In the 1960s, ZUK [1] performed extensive gradient in concretesteel composite bridges based on a
investigations on the thermal behavior of highway synthesis of several theoretical and experimental studies
bridges and concluded that the temperature distribution on prototype bridges. MIRAMBELL and AGUADO [5]
was affected by air temperature, wind speed, humidity carried out several parametric studies to analyze the
and intensity of solar radiation. Afterwards, researchers influence of the crosssection geometry on the thermal
and bridge engineers were aware of nonlinear response and stress distributions in concrete box girder
temperature distribution developed across a bridge bridges.
section and a lot of subsequent researches [2−5] were In recent years, most of investigations mainly focus
Fig. 2 Layouts of temperature sensors at section T1 (a) and
section T2 (b) (Unit: cm)
Fig. 8 Natural boundary conditions of concrete box girder
Fig. 9 Spatial position of bridge and sun
surface azimuth angle between south and the normal to cloud cover fraction during the period of cold wave.
the surface and positive toward the east. Angles of β, φ Consequently, the temperature prediction model uses the
and θ or the length of shadow Ls can be calculated product of cloud cover fraction and clear sky global
through latitude and longitude of the bridge based on radiation to calculate the direct and diffuse solar
geometric theory. radiation. The ratio of global radiation for a given cloud
The rate of heat absorbed by the bridge due to short cover fraction to clear sky global radiation has been
wave solar radiation is obtained by shown to be independent of the solar incidence angle
[16]:
qS = a éë I B cos q + I D sin 2 (h / 2) ùû (4)
I G IGc = 1 - 0.75 N 3.4 (5)
where IB is hourly direct solar radiation normal to the
beam, W/m 2 , ID is hourly diffuse solar radiation on where IG is hourly global irradiance on horizontal
horizontal surface, W/m 2 , and α is the solar radiation surface, W/m 2 ; IGc is hourly clear sky global irradiance
absorptivity of the surface material. with details of calculation shown in Ref. [16], W/m 2 ; N is
Different from the clear day condition, the direct cloud cover fraction.
and diffuse solar radiation may also be influenced by To estimate the total radiation on the surface of
J. Cent. South Univ. (2014) 21: 1227−1241 1233
other orientations, the direct solar radiation and diffuse Tc is the surface temperature of bridge, °C, and the heat
solar radiation must be calculated separately. de convection coefficient can be expressed as [22]
MIGUEL et al [17] correlated IG/ID with hourly clearness
ìï 4v + 5.6, v £ 5 m/s
index kt, and the equations for the correlation can be h c = í 0.78
(13)
expressed as ïî 7.15 , v > 5 m/s
Fig. 10 Comparison of predicted and measured temperatures at section T1
and n is the number of data used in the analysis. The
average absolute errors for all measuring points range
from 0.2 to 1.7 °C.
where y is the distance from the top surface, m; αd is the
power of function.
2) Tw is the temperature in the lower part of web.
The temperature along the haunch and upper part of web
is defined as a linear variation from 0 at depth of 0.5 m
to Tw at depth of 1.5 m.
3) The temperature along the bottom slab is defined
as a linear variation from Tb at outer surface to Tbt at
0.6 m, and a constant Tbt to the inner surface of bottom
slab. If the thickness of bottom slab db is less than 0.6 m,
the temperature along the bottom slab is defined as a
linear variation from Tb at outer surface to Tbt at inner
surface of the bottom slab.
4) For the temperature gradients along the depth of
cantilever slab, a piecewise linear temperature gradient
distribution model is proposed, which is defined as a
maximum temperature, Tcs(x), at middle depth and two
equal minimum temperatures, Tcc(x), at the top surface
and lower surface.
4.2 Horizontal temperature gradients
Based on the measurements, it can be assumed that
horizontal temperature gradients in the bottom slab and
Fig. 14 Calculated vertical temperature gradients along A−A deck slab over the box cell can be neglected. Figure 16(a)
line (a) and B−B line and C−C line (b) of section T1 and shows horizontal temperature gradients along the
section T2 thickness of web (D−D line), when the ambient air
temperature is the lowest. As shown, the horizontal
Based on the discussions of the calculated vertical temperature gradients along the web can reach −10 °C,
temperature gradients of different section size, a vertical and is affected by the thickness of web. As the web gets
temperature gradient model is proposed, as shown in thicker, the temperature difference will be expected to be
Fig. 15. In the model, the notations are defined as greater. The horizontal temperature gradients along top
follows: surface (E−E line) and the center line (F−F line) of the
1) Td(y) is the continuous temperature distribution cantilever slab are presented in Fig. 16(b). It can be seen
increasing from Td at the top surface to 0 °C at depth of that the horizontal temperature gradients along the
1236 J. Cent. South Univ. (2014) 21: 1227−1241
cantilever slab are rarely influenced by the thickness of gradients into account, a twodimensional temperature
web and bottom slab, and the temperature difference gradient model can be obtained, in which the concrete
along E−E line of the cantilever slab is greater than that box girder crosssection is subdivided into four regions
along F−F line. (Fig. 18).
Fig. 18 Region division of concrete box girder crosssection
The temperature gradient of the four regions can be
defined as follows:
1) The temperature gradient in region A can be
expressed as
æ d ( x ) ö 2 y
Fig. 16 Calculated horizontal temperature gradients along D−D TA ( x, y ) = TA ç x , c ÷ - - 1 ×
line (a) and E−E line and F−F line (b) of sections T1 and T2 è 2 ø d c ( x)
é æ d c ( x ) ö ù
êTA ç x, ÷ - TA ( x, 0) ú (18)
Based on the discussions of the calculated ë è 2 ø û
horizontal temperature gradients in the web and
cantilever slab, the horizontal temperature gradient where TA(x, 0) and TA(x, 0.5dc(x)) are the temperatures at
models for the web and cantilever slab are proposed, as the top surface and middle depth of the cantilever slab,
shown in Fig. 17. In the model, the notations are defined respectively, with distance x from the edge, °C; dc(x) is
as follows: the thickness of the cantilever slab, m; y is the distance
1) Twd is the temperature at the outer surface of the from the top surface, m.
web. Twd(xw) is the continuous temperature distribution TA(x, 0) and TA(x, 0.5dc(x)) can be calculated as
increasing from Twd at the outer surface to 0 °C at the T
TA ( x, 0) = Tcs + Td - cs x (19)
inner surface, and can be expressed as 4.45
Twd ( xw ) = Twd [( d w - xw ) / d w ] a w (17) æ d ( x) ö
TA ç x, c
T cc
(20)
÷ = Tcc - x
è 2 ø 4.45
where dw is the thickness of web, m, αw is the power of
function and xw is the distance from the outer surface, m. 2) The temperature gradients in region B can be
2) Tcs and Tcc are the maximum negative horizontal expressed as
temperature differences at the top surface and center line a
ïìT [(0.5 - y ) / 0.5] d , y £ 0.5 m
of cantilever slab, respectively. TB ( y ) = í d (21)
ïî Tw ( y - 0.5), 0.5 m < y £ 1 m
4.3 Twodimensional temperature gradient model 3) The temperature gradients in region C can be
Taking both vertical and horizontal temperature expressed as
J. Cent. South Univ. (2014) 21: 1227−1241 1237
Table 2 Parameters of proposed model
Section Td/°C αd Tw/°C Tbt/°C Tb/°C Twd/°C αw Tcs/°C Tcc/°C
T1 7 2 −1 1.1 −8.4 −10 3.1 −4 −9
T2 7 2 −4.6 −4 −7.7 −6.5 1.6 −4 −9
Fig. 24 Selfequilibrating stress distributions along thickness of
web (D−D line) (a) and along depth of cantilever slab (B−B
line) (b) of section T1
Fig. 25 Selfequilibrating stress distributions along thickness of web (D−D line) (a) and along depth of cantilever slab (B−B line) (b)
of section T2
Table 5 Maximum bending tensile stresses at out surface of web and top and bottom slab
Maximum bending tensile stresses at Section T1/MPa Maximum bending tensile stresses at Section T2/MPa
Model
Deck slab Web Bottom slab Deck slab Web Bottom slab
Proposed model 2.43 3.07 2.29 2.18 1.36 0.85
JTG D602004 1.82 0.28 −0.04 1.79 0.49 −0.02
AASHTO 1.41 0.26 −0.02 1.37 0.33 −0.02
BS 5400 2.02 0.6 1.6 2 0.88 1.02
equilibrating tensile stresses or bending tensile stresses at more easily under the worst cold wave. Thus, the design
the out surface of web and bottom obtained from the engineers should take temperature effects caused by cold
proposed temperature gradient model are so large. When wave into account during the design stage.
they are added to the stresses due to the other dead loads
and live loads, they may give rise to cracking in a 7 Conclusions
concrete box bridge. Moreover, the analyzed data in this
work is not obtained under the worst cold wave. Table 6 1) Temperature distribution across the section of
lists the maximum drop of daily minimum temperature concrete box girder under the effect of cold wave is
during 24, 48 and 72 h in 50 years in six typical cities of different from that under the effect of solar radiation or
China. As shown, the maximum drop of daily minimum nighttime radiation cooling and should not be simplified
temperature during 24, 48 and 72 h in 50 years in the as one dimensional. The horizontal temperature gradients
northern cities of China can reach 20.4, 23.2 and 26.5 °C, in the web and cantilever slab should be considered when
respectively, which is far greater than 13.4 °C in this analyzing the temperature effect of concrete box girder
work. As the temperature drop range is the main bridge under the effect of cold wave.
influencing factors, the concrete box girder would crack 2) The developed temperature predicting model can
accurately predict temperature distributions over the
Table 6 Maximum drop of daily minimum temperature during cross section of the concrete box girder under the effect
24, 48 and 72 h in 50 years of six typical cities of cold wave. The proposed twodimensional
Maximum temperature drop/°C temperature gradient model can accurately predict the
City temperature gradient over the cross section of the
24 h 48 h 72 h
concrete box girder under the effect of cold wave.
Beijing −15.7 −21.8 −22.6
3) The cold wave with shorter duration and more
Chengdu −9.5 −11.9 −12.1 severe temperature drop may cause more unfavorable
Guangzhou −14.4 −16.2 −17.4 influences on the concrete box girder bridge. The cold
Harbin −20.4 −23.2 −26.5 wave may cause more unfavorable effects to the concrete
Lanzhou −12.9 −14.3 −15.3
box girder bridge than the current code provisions,
especially to the large concrete box girders bridge. The
Shanghai −12.8 −14.4 −17.2
unrestrained selfequilibrating tensile stresses and
J. Cent. South Univ. (2014) 21: 1227−1241 1241
bending tensile stresses at the outer surface of web and prestressed concrete girders based on data from confederation Bridge
[J]. Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 2004, 31(5): 813−825.
bottom under the effect of cold wave are so large that
[11] LEE J H, KALKAN I. Analysis of thermal environmental effects on
when the stresses are added due to the other dead loads precast, prestressed concrete bridge girders: Temperature differentials
and live loads, they may give rise to cracking in a and thermal deformations [J]. Advances in Structural Engineering,
concrete box bridge. 2012, 15(3): 447−459.
4) In the northern cities of China, the concrete box [12] LEE J H. Investigation of extreme environmental conditions and
girder bridge would suffer more unfavorable effects from design thermal gradients during construction for prestressed concrete
bridge girders [J]. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 2012, 17(3):
the cold wave and crack more easily.
547−556.
[13] SONG Zhiwen, XIAO Jianzhuang, SHEN Luming. On
References temperature gradients in highperformance concrete box girder under
solar radiation [J]. Advances in Structural Engineering, 2012, 15(3):
[1] ZUK W. Thermal and shrinkage stresses in composite beams [J]. ACI 399−415.
Journal, 1961, 58(5): 327−339. [14] SVEINSON T N. Temperature effects in concrete box girder bridges
[2] DILGER W H, BEAUCHAMP J C, CHEUNG M S, BEAUCHAMP [D]. Calgary: University of Calgary, 2004.
J C. Field measurements of muskwa river bridge [J]. Journal of the [15] GB/T 21987—2008, Grades of cold wave [S]. (in Chinese)
Structural Division, 1981, 107(11): 2147−2161. [16] MUBEER T, GUI M S. Evaluation of sunshine and cloud cover
[3] ELBADRY M M, GHAIL A. Temperature variations in concrete based models for generating solar radiation data [J]. Energy
bridges [J]. Journal of the Structural Engineering, 1983, 109(10): Conversion and Management, 2000, 41(5): 461−482.
2355−2374. [17] de MIGUEL A, BILBAO J, AGUIAR R, KAMBEZIDIS H, NEGRD
[4] KENNEDY J B, SOLIMAN M H. Temperature distribution in E. Diffuse solar irradiation model evaluation in the north
composite bridges [J]. Journal of Structural Engineering, 1987, Mediterranean belt area [J]. Solar Energy, 2001, 70(2): 143−153.
113(3): 475−482. [18] KEHLBECK F. The influence of solar radiation on the bridge
[5] MIRAMBELL E, AGUADO A. Temperature and stress distributions structure [M]. LIU Xingfa, transl. Beijing: China Railway
in concrete box girder bridges [J]. Journal of Structural Engineering, Publishing House, 1981: 9−29. (in Chinese)
1990, 116(9): 2388−2409. [19] CRAWFORD T M, DUCHON C E. An improved parameterization
[6] SILVEIRA A P, BRANCO F A, CASTANHETA M. Statistical for estimating effective atmospheric emissivity for use in calculating
analysis of thermal actions for concrete bridge design [J]. Journal of daytime downwelling longwave radiation [J]. Journal of Applied
the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering, Meteorology and Climatology, 1999, 38(4): 474−480.
2000, 10(1): 33−38. [20] ALDUCHOV O A, ESKRIDGE R E. Improved magnus form
[7] TONG M, THAM L, AU F. Extreme thermal loading on steel bridges approximation of saturation vapor pressure [J]. Journal of Applied
in tropical region [J]. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 2002, 7(6): Meteorology, 1996, 35(4): 601−609.
357−366. [21] ZHAI Panmao, ESKRIDGE R E. Atmospheric water vapor over
[8] LEI Xiao, YE Jianshu, WANG Yi. Representative value of solar China [J]. Journal of Climate, 1997, 10(10): 2643−2652.
thermal difference effect on PC boxgirder [J]. Journal of Southeast [22] SAETTA A, SCOTTA R, VITALIANI R. Stress analysis of concrete
University: Natural Science Edition, 2008, 38(6): 1105−1109. (in structures subjected to variable thermal loads [J]. Journal of
chinese) Structural Engineering, 1995, 121(3): 446−457.
[9] LARSSON O, THELANDERSSON S. Estimating extreme values of [23] CARINO N J, TANK R C. Maturity function for concretes made
thermal gradients in concrete structures [J]. Materials and Structure, with various cements and admixtures [J]. ACI Material Journal, 1992,
2011, 44(8): 1491−1500. 89(2): 188−196.
[10] LI D N, MAES M A, DILGER W H. Thermal design criteria for deep (Edited by FANG Jinghua)