Temperature Effect on Pre-Stressed Continuous Bridges

Introduction Temperature Measurement Data and Field

Preliminary Study & Results
The present work is an attempt to investigate the temperature effect in case of long Study
span prestressed continuous bridges which are made continuous either at supports The purpose of the analysis is to obtain a better understanding of both the design and Temperature Measurement Data and Field Study
or made integral with the supports (including pier and abutments). behaviour aspects of prestressed girders continuous or integral under different influencing
The solar radiation intensity is the main factor that affects the temperature distribution in the
parameters. The objective of the analysis is:
Variations in temperature bridge. Critical temperature distributions usually occur in summer due to the higher solar
To investigate the influence of temperature effects on the forces and deformations
distribution in bridge members radiation intensity received on the deck surface.
of prestressed concrete bridges, considering different cross sections.
can be described in terms of: To check the impact of the temperature on the long span bridges, filed assessment of the 4
For the analysis, both the slab and girder modeled as beam elements using grillage
Uniform Temperature : span continuous bridge will be carried out where the Temperature sensors and strain
analysis method.
Cause Change in Axial Length sensos will be placed on the different locations in the box-girder sections. The bridge
Temperature Gradient : casting is scheduled in July therefore, the measured data from July to September 2023 will
Cause Bending Deformation be analyzed. The hourly records of the temperature of the girders will be recorded. As a
desktop study, the FEM model of the same 4 spans bridge will be modelled. The effect of
the temperature will be analyzed with the field assessment data.

DIFFERENT CROSS-SECTION CONSIDERED

Heat Transferred Between Girder Surface and Environment
Deck Span Y-Beam U-Beam W-Beam
The concrete is having poor thermal conductivity however, the thermal loads can create (m) (Depth in (Depth in (Depth in
non-uniform temperature distributions in bridge structures.   mm) mm) mm)
The temperature in an element of material causes the element to expand if it is unrestrained    
and if the element is prevented from expanding the rise in temperature causes an increase
20m 1200 1100 800
in stress which somewhere depend on the young modulus of the material.
30m 1700 1500 1300
The stresses and deformations caused by non-uniform temperature distributions can be
40m 2200 2100 2600
comparable to those caused by dead and live loads and may cause cracks and excessive
deformations. 50m 2700 2600 2300
  Extreme ambient temperature range of
approximately 12°C to 50°C.
50000 Suitability of Cross-Section
• Relative humidity 60% to 85 % Variation of weight of deck with span
40000
• Average annual rainfall is low, at
WEIGHT (kN)

30000
W for different cross sections Total
approximately 100mm per year. 20000
U weight reduction achieved in case of
Y • U-Beam Vs Y-Beam - 3% as
  10000
compared to Y-Beam.
The high ambient temperatures 0
• W-Beam Vs U-Beam - 22% &
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
increase the risk of construction SPAN (m)
24% compared to U-Beam.
defects, for example due to loss of Weight reduction will help in providing
larger spans, results in lesser design
workability and inadequate curing and Graph : Weight Vs.
moments etc.
Span
promote cracking and corrosion.

Average Monthly Temperature in UAE Prestressing Force Prestress Vs. Span

The reduction in total prestressing force
U-Beam Vs Y-Beam - 13%
The relative humidity in combination with high W-Beam Ys U-Beam - 11% and 22% to Y-
ambient temperatures and exposure to wind
and solar gain can lead to high rates of drying
and very difficult concreting conditions. The
Beam.
References
 Hambly, E.C. (1991), “Bridge Deck Behaviour”, E & FN Spon London.
detrimental effects of these conditions include:
• Early-age thermal cracking,  Temperature Gradient and Its Effect on Long-Span Prestressed Concrete Box Girder
• Increased porosity of the cement hydrates, Bridge (2020), Faculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Jiangsu University,
• Poor compaction due to low workability or Zhenjiang, China
excessive free water/cement ratio resulting
in inadequate durability.
 Concrete Society Report 163 Guide to the Design of Concrete Structures in the
Based on the recommendations in ACI 305, hot Arabian Peninsula
weather precautions will be required for  Wei-Chien Wang “Effect of High Temperature on the Strength and Thermal
temperature ranging form 35 to 55°C.
Conductivity of Glass Fiber Concrete”
Average Monthly Humidity in UAE