The measurement of thermal changes on concrete box girder bridge

Abstract

Thermal load, especially vertical temperature gradient is an important factor that should be considered during the bridge design procedure. In the world several researches focusing on thermal influences was performed, mostly in USA and China, but only a few analysed real measured cross-section temperature gradient at European bridges. In this paper, the temperature field along two decisive cross-section of concrete box girder bridge caused by heat of hydration or exposure to sunlight has been investigated by field monitoring. The measured temperature gradients has been compared to the Slovak bridge design eurocode.