Tutorial Bgfls 103

Flow-Stress Analysis of a Box Girder
Outline
1 Description
2 Finite Element Model
2.1 Units
2.2 Create geometry
2.3 Properties
2.4 Boundary Conditions
2.4.1 Thermal Boundary Conditions
2.4.2 Initial Temperature
2.5 Static Boundary Conditions
2.6 Loads
2.7 Meshing
3 Transient Heat Transfer Analysis
3.1 Analysis Commands
3.2 Results
3.2.1 Temperatures
3.2.2 Degree of Reaction
4 Structural Nonlinear Analysis
4.2 Results
4.2.1 Thermal Strains
4.2.2 Development of Mechanical Properties with Time
4.2.3 Stresses
Appendix A Additional Information
Flow-Stress Analysis of a Box Girder | https://dianafea.com 2/47

1 Description
This example analyses the thermo-mechanical behaviour of a multi-cell box girder [Fig. 1]. This type of structure is employed in the construction of bridges or viaducts. We will perform a
staggered flow-stress analysis.
Figure 1: Cross-section of the box girder [m]

The following aspects are considered in the model:
• 2D plane strain elements are used;

• Only half of the model is considered due to symmetry;
• Interface boundary elements are used to model convection;
• A transient staggered thermo-structural analysis is performed to evaluate the cement hydration (i.e., the degree of reaction) and the temperature variation in time and the cracking of
concrete;
• The model is discretized using quadratic elements. To ensure strain compatibility1 , DianaIE will automatically solve the heat flow problem using linear elements and the structural
problem using quadratic elements. Consequently, the thermal strain and total strain fields are linearly interpolated across the elements.
1
The differential equations governing the heat flow problem are one order lower than those defining the structural problem. Thus, if the same approximation was employed in the staggered analysis, the strain field from
the heat flow problem would be one order higher than that from the structural one.

For the transient heat transfer analysis, the heat flow properties considered for concrete are :
• Thermal conductivity λ = 173 E+03 (J/day · m ·◦ C)

• Thermal capacity c = 2675 E+03 (J/m3 ·◦ C)
For the flow boundary elements (convection only), the heat transfer property is:
• Heat transfer coefficient h = 700 E+03 (J/m2 ·◦ C · day)
We use the following adiabatic curve for the Young Hardening concrete:
Time [days] Temp [◦ C]

0 20
0.1 24.98
0.2 29.47
0.3 33.51
0.4 37.15
0.5 40.42
0.6 43.37
0.7 46.02
0.8 48.41
0.9 50.57
1 52.5
1.5 59.65
2 63.88
2.5 66.38
3 67.86
4 69.25
5 69.73
10 70
60 70
Table 1: Adiabatic curve Figure 2: Adiabatic curve

For the mechanical properties of concrete we use the Model Code 2010 with a concrete class C30.

Due to symmetry conditions, we will just model one half part of the structure [Fig. 3].
Figure 3: Detailed geometry of the model [m]

2 Finite Element Model
For the modelling session we start a new project.
DianaIE
Main menu File New [Fig. 4]
Figure 4: New project dialog

2.1 Units
We define the units to be used in the model [Fig. 6]: Newton for force, m for length, day for time and Celsius for temperature.
DianaIE
Geometry browser Reference system Units [Fig. 5]

Property Panel [Fig. 6]
Figure 5: Geometry browser Figure 6: Property Panel - Units

2.2 Create geometry
We will now create the geometry of the box girder. We first create a sheet for its outline.
DianaIE
Main menu Geometry Create Add polygon sheet [Fig. 7] [Fig. 8]
Figure 7: Add polygon sheet - Box girder outline Figure 8: Geometry - Box girder outline

We create sheets for the two cells.
DianaIE
Main menu Geometry Create Add polygon sheet [Fig. 9] [Fig. 10]
< Repeat 2 × >
Figure 9: Add polygon sheet - Cell1 Figure 10: Add polygon sheet - Cell2

Figure 11: Geometry - Cells

We subtract the two sheets of the cells to get the openings in the box girder.
DianaIE
Main menu Geometry Modify Subtract shapes [Fig. 12] [Fig. 13]
Figure 12: Subtract shapes Figure 13: Geometry - Box girder

2.3 Properties
We assign the properties to the box girder. We will use concrete grade C30 according to Model Code 2010. All material properties are defined in this code. Because we use plane strain
elements, we do not need to define geometry properties. We will use the default integration scheme, so no data group is required.
DianaIE
Main menu Geometry Assign Properties [Fig. 14]

Properties Material Add material [Fig. 15] Edit material [Fig. 16]
Figure 14: Assign box grider properties Figure 15: Add new material - Concrete Figure 16: Edit material - Concrete

In the heat flow properties we input the adiabatic curve presented in Table 1.
Figure 17: Edit material Concrete - Heat flow Figure 18: Adiabatic curve

2.4 Boundary Conditions
2.4.1 Thermal Boundary Conditions
We create flow boundary elements on the edges of the box girder to model the convection. We select all the edges except the two edges on the symmetry line.
DianaIE
Main menu Geometry Assign Connection properties [Fig. 19]
Figure 19: Assign flow boundary Figure 20: Edges with the flow boundary elements

We create a new material model for flow boundary elements with the properties described in Section 1.
DianaIE
Connection properties Material Add material [Fig. 21] Edit material [Fig. 22]
Figure 21: Add material - Flow boundary Figure 22: Edit material - Flow boundary

We attach an external temperature of 20◦ C to the flow boundary elements.
DianaIE
Main menu Geometry Assign Thermal conditions [Fig. 23]
Figure 23: External temperature for thermal boundary conditions

For the transient analysis with time steps we have to make this thermal boundary condition dependent in time. In this example the external temperature is constant in time. That is why a
factor 1 is defined for t = 0 and t = 60 days.
DianaIE
Geometry browser Boundary conditions External temperature Edit time dependency [Fig. 24] [Fig. 25]
Figure 24: Geometry browser - Boundary Conditions Figure 25: Edit time dependent factors

2.4.2 Initial Temperature
The initial temperature is equal to 20◦ C.

DianaIE
Main menu Geometry Assign Initial fields [Fig. 23]
Figure 26: Attach initial field

2.5 Static Boundary Conditions
We attach translational supports in the X-direction to the two edges on the symmetry line.
DianaIE
Main menu Geometry Assign Supports [Fig. 27] [Fig. 28]
Figure 27: Attach support -

symmetry Figure 28: View of the model

The bottom right corner of the box girder is supported in the Y-direction.
DianaIE
Main menu Geometry Assign Supports [Fig. 27] [Fig. 28]
Figure 29: Attach support - vertical Figure 30: View of the model

2.6 Loads
The dead weight is the only load considered in the model.
DianaIE
Main menu Geometry Assign Global loads [Fig. 31]
Figure 31: Global load

We consider the dead weight as a time-dependent load. We apply the dead weight after 7 days.
DianaIE
Geometry browser Loads Cases Dead weight Edit time dependency [Fig. 32] [Fig. 33]
Figure 32: Geometry browser - Loads Figure 33: Edit time dependent factors

2.7 Meshing
We define the mesh properties. We will use an element size of 0.05 m. Finally we generate the mesh.
DianaIE
Main menu Geometry Assign Mesh properties [Fig. 34]

Main menu Geometry Generate mesh [Fig. 35]
Figure 34: Mesh properties Figure 35: Mesh

We can see in the mesh browser that the mesh is composed by plane strain elements and flow boundary elements.
Figure 36: Mesh browser Figure 37: Mesh

3 Transient Heat Transfer Analysis
We set up a transient flow-stress analysis. We start with the transient heat transfer analysis.
DianaIE
Main menu Analysis Add analysis [Fig. 38]

Analysis browser Analysis1 Rename Flow-Stress Analysis
Analysis browser Flow-Stress Analysis Add command Transient heat transfer [Fig. 39] [Fig. 40]
Figure 38: Analysis browser Figure 39: Add command Figure 40: Analysis browser

We set the initial conditions.
DianaIE
Analysis browser Flow-Stress Analysis Transient heat transfer Initial conditions Edit properties [Fig. 42]
Figure 41: Analysis browser Figure 42: Initial conditions

To execute the analysis we consider 10 time steps of 0.2 day, followed by 6 steps of 0.5 day, 5 steps of 1 day and 4 steps of 5 days: 0.2(10) 0.5(6) 1.(5) 5.(4). And we finally run the heat flow
analysis.
DianaIE
Analysis browser Flow-Stress Analysis Transient heat transfer Execute Analysis Edit properties [Fig. 44]
Main menu Analysis Run all analyses
Figure 43: Analysis browser Figure 44: Execute analysis

3.2 Results
3.2.1 Temperatures
We analyse the results at the first time step of 0.2 day (4 hour 48 minutes). First we visualize the temperature.
DianaIE
Results browser Flow-Stress Analysis Analysis Output Nodal results Temperatures PTE [Fig. 45] [Fig. 46]
Figure 45: Results browser Figure 46: Temperatures at 0.2 day

In order to better see the development of temperature with time we set the minimum value of the legend equal to 20 °C and the maximum value equal top 36 °C. Then the legend will not
change when plotting the results in time. We change the contour plot settings in the properties browser.
DianaIE
Show view settings

Property Panel Result Contour plot settings [Fig. 47]
Figure 47: Result properties Figure 48: Temperatures at 0.2 day

We walk though time by selecting the next time step.
DianaIE
Results browser Case Next

< Select the different time steps >
Figure 49: Temperatures at 0.6 days Figure 50: Temperatures at 1.8 days Figure 51: Temperatures at 2.5 days Figure 52: Temperatures at 6 days

We draw a graph of the development of the temperature in time for two selected nodes. We first activate node selection mode and select the two nodes as shown in Figure 54.
DianaIE
Main menu Viewer Node selection

Results browser Flow-Stress Analysis Analysis Output Nodal results Temperatures PTE Show table [Fig. 53]
Figure 53: Temperatures vs. time Figure 54: Selected nodes in the mesh

3.2.2 Degree of Reaction
We now create a contour plot for the degrees of reaction and set the minimum value equal to 0 and the maximum 1.0.
DianaIE
Show view settings

Results browser Flow-Stress Analysis Analysis Output Element results Degrees of Reaction DGR [Fig. 45] [Fig. 46]
Figure 55: Results browser Figure 56: Results properties Figure 57: Degree of reaction at 0.2 day

We select different time steps to see the development of the degree of reaction with time.
DianaIE
Results browser Case Next

< Select the different time steps >
Figure 58: Degrees of reaction at 0.6 days Figure 60: Degrees of reaction at 2.5 days
Figure 59: Degrees of reaction at 1.8 days Figure 61: Degrees of reaction at 6 days

Hydration is complete (degree of reaction equal to 1) after approximately 7 days.
Figure 62: Degrees of reaction at 7 days

We draw a graph of the degree of reaction and equivalent age in time for the two selected nodes. Select All results to be able to choose from the available results to make the graph.
DianaIE
Results browser Flow-Stress Analysis Analysis Output Element results Degrees of Reaction DGR Show table [Fig. 63]
< Change the y-axis data to Equivalent Age - EQA > [Fig. 64]
Figure 63: Degrees of reaction vs. time Figure 64: Equivalent age vs. time
4 Structural Nonlinear Analysis

We continue with the analysis with the structural part. Because we will do time steps, we will remove the first default execute block with load steps and add time steps.
DianaIE
Analysis browser Flow-Stress Analysis Add command Structural nonlinear [Fig. 65]
Analysis browser Flow-Stress Analysis Structural nonlinear new execute block Remove
Analysis browser Flow-Stress Analysis Structural nonlinear Add... Execute steps - Time steps [Fig. 66]
Figure 65: Analysis browser Figure 66: Analysis browser

We define the same time steps as in the transient heat transfer analysis: 0.2(10) 05(6) 1(5) 5(4) days. We use the user selection output to define the results we want from the analysis:
displacements, temperatures, strains, stresses and material parameters that develop with time (Young’s modulus, tensile strength, fracture energy and compression strength). We finally run
the analysis again.
DianaIE
Analysis browser Flow-Stress Analysis Structural nonlinear Time steps Edit properties [Fig. 67]
Analysis browser Flow-Stress Analysis Structural nonlinear Output Edit properties [Fig. 68]
Main menu Analysis Run all analyses
Figure 67: Time steps Figure 68: Output selection

4.2 Results
4.2.1 Thermal Strains
We will now assess the termal strain distribution over the model and its development in time. We set the minimum value of the countour plot legend equal to 0 and the maximum equal to
1e-4.
DianaIE
Show view settings

Results browser Flow-Stress Analysis Analysis Output Element results Temperature strains EtmpXX [Fig. 70] [Fig. 71]
Figure 69: Results properties Figure 70: Results browser Figure 71: Temperature strains at 0.2 day

We walk though time by selecting the next time steps. It is interesting to notice that the largest thermal strains occur in the thicker parts of the model. Also note that when the dead weight
starts to act, after seven days, the thermal strain development has almost come to an end.
Figure 72: Temperature strains at 0.6 days Figure 74: Temperature strains at 3 days
Figure 73: Temperature strains at 1.4 days Figure 75: Temperature strains at 7 days

4.2.2 Development of Mechanical Properties with Time
The Model Code 2010 considers the development of the Young’s modulus, tensile strength, fracture energy and compression strength with time. We can make a graph of these parameters as
a function of time. For that we activate the element selection and select one element in the area with extreme temperature as presented in Figure 78. We start with the Young’s Modulus.
DianaIE
Main menu Viewer Element selection

Results browser Flow-Stress Analysis Analysis Output Element results Elastic Parameters YOUNG Show table [Fig. 77]
Figure 76: Results browser Figure 77: Young’s modulus vs. time Figure 78: Selected element in the mesh

When we select All results in the Chart view we have all results available to make the graph. We now make the graph of the tensile strength and fracture energy as a function in time.
DianaIE
Chart view y axis data Output - Total strain parameters - TENSTR [Fig. 79]
Chart view y axis data Output - Total strain parameters - GF1 [Fig. 80]
Figure 79: Tensile strength vs. time Figure 80: Fracture energy vs. time

We finally draw the graph of the compressive strength as a function in time.
DianaIE
Chart view y axis data Output - Total strain parameters - COMSTR [Fig. 81]
Figure 81: Compressive strength vs. time

4.2.3 Stresses
We now show the contour plot of the first principal stress S1. We choose the time t = 7 days, just before the application of the dead weight, and the next step at time t = 8 days. We change
the unit length to mm so that stresses are given in MPa. We set the minimum equal to 0 Mpa and the maximum equal to 1.4 Mpa.
Note that the dead weight considerably increases the major principal stress.
DianaIE
Results browser Flow-Stress Analysis Analysis Output Element results Cauchy Total Stresses S1 [Fig. 82] [Fig. 83]
Figure 82: Principal stress S1 at 7 days Figure 83: Principal stress S1 at 8 days

We now present the development of the longitudinal stresses with time in an element in the area with extreme temperature. We activate the element section and select an element as presented
in Figure 85.
DianaIE
Main menu Viewer Element selection

Results browser Flow-Stress Analysis Analysis Output Element results Cauchy Total Stresses SSZ Show table [Fig. 84]
Figure 84: Cauchy total stresses SZZ vs. time Figure 85: Selected element in the mesh

Appendix A Additional Information
Folder: Tutorials/BoxGirderFlwStr
Number of elements ≈ 2400
Keywords:
analys: flow flowst heat nonlin physic stagge transi.
constr: initia suppor temper.
elemen: b2ht cq16e ct12e flow potent pstrai q4ht t3ht.
load: elemen temper time weight.
materi: adiaba concre conduc crack elasti harden hydrat isotro maturi mc2010 power rotati shrink soften totstr viscoe.
option: direct newton regula units.
post: binary ndiana.
pre: dianai.
result: cauchy crkind displa equage flux green inttmp princi reacti strain stress temper total.

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© DIANA FEA BV
Disclaimer: The aim of this technical tutorial is to illustrate various tools, modelling techniques and analysis workflows in DIANA.
DIANA FEA BV does not accept any responsibility regarding the presented cases, used parameters, and presented results.

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Flow-Stress Analysis of a Box Girder

Flow-Stress Analysis of a Box Girder | https://dianafea.com 2/47

Figure 1: Cross-section of the box girder [m]

Flow-Stress Analysis of a Box Girder | https://dianafea.com 3/47

• 2D plane strain elements are used;

Flow-Stress Analysis of a Box Girder | https://dianafea.com 4/47

• Thermal conductivity λ = 173 E+03 (J/day · m ·◦ C)

• Heat transfer coefficient h = 700 E+03 (J/m2 ·◦ C · day)

Time [days] Temp [◦ C]

Table 1: Adiabatic curve Figure 2: Adiabatic curve

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Figure 3: Detailed geometry of the model [m]

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Main menu File New [Fig. 4]

Figure 4: New project dialog

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Geometry browser Reference system Units [Fig. 5]

Figure 5: Geometry browser Figure 6: Property Panel - Units

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Main menu Geometry Create Add polygon sheet [Fig. 7] [Fig. 8]

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Figure 12: Subtract shapes Figure 13: Geometry - Box girder

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Main menu Geometry Assign Properties [Fig. 14]

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Main menu Geometry Assign Connection properties [Fig. 19]

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Main menu Geometry Assign Thermal conditions [Fig. 23]

Figure 23: External temperature for thermal boundary conditions

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The initial temperature is equal to 20◦ C.

Main menu Geometry Assign Initial fields [Fig. 23]

Figure 26: Attach initial field

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Main menu Geometry Assign Supports [Fig. 27] [Fig. 28]

Figure 27: Attach support -

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Main menu Geometry Assign Supports [Fig. 27] [Fig. 28]

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The dead weight is the only load considered in the model.

Main menu Geometry Assign Global loads [Fig. 31]

Figure 31: Global load

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Main menu Geometry Assign Mesh properties [Fig. 34]

Figure 34: Mesh properties Figure 35: Mesh

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Figure 36: Mesh browser Figure 37: Mesh

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Main menu Analysis Add analysis [Fig. 38]

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Figure 41: Analysis browser Figure 42: Initial conditions

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Figure 43: Analysis browser Figure 44: Execute analysis

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Figure 45: Results browser Figure 46: Temperatures at 0.2 day

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