Impact of Extreme Summer Temperatures on Bridge Structures

Research has shown that heat waves affect thermal expansion joints, accelerate material degradation, and increase stresses in prestressed concrete girders. Specifically, experimental and analytical investigations indicate a significant increase in stresses at both the tension and compression regions of structural members exposed to extreme summer temperatures. The increase of stresses may widen current cracks and create new cracks that accelerate concrete and steel deterioration. In other words, the effects of extreme temperatures may reduce the durability, serviceability, and stability of bridge structures. This research project will investigate the effects of extreme temperatures on prestressed concrete bridges. The project includes three primary parts: (i) a laboratory and experimental investigation, (ii) development of a computer program, and (iii) finite element modeling of the stress distribution due to temperature variations. The laboratory and experimental investigation will measure temperature distribution in two full-scale sections of a BT-72 bridge girder. A computer program will be developed to determine the temperature distribution and the corresponding thermal stresses in the girder cross sections. This program will be validated through the evaluation of six American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) I girders and three AASHTO-PCI Bulb-Tee sections. Finite element modeling will be developed to include two-dimensional and three-dimensional models. The two-dimensional model will be used to determine the temperature distribution within the girder cross-sections. The two-dimensional model will be used to investigate the global behavior of the girders including the bridge deck. The project will also propose a new thermal gradient model that will account for the effects of extreme temperatures. A computer program will be developed to assist users with the quantification of the thermal stress distribution within prestressed concrete bridge girders. The minimum reinforcement ratio and placement of non-prestressed reinforcement will be refined based on the research findings.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $107888.00
• Contract Numbers:

  DTRT13-G-UTC36

  SPTC 14.1-21

• Sponsor Organizations:

  University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

  Department of Civil Engineering
  Fayetteville, AR  United States  72701

  Arkansas Department of Transportation

  P.O. Box 2261
  Little Rock, AR  United States  72203

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  University Transportation Centers Program
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Performing Organizations:

  University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

  Department of Civil Engineering
  Fayetteville, AR  United States  72701
• Principal Investigators:

  Floyd, Royce

  Hale, W. Micah

• Start Date: 20140801
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 20160731
• Source Data: RiP Project 37478

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Degradation failures; Durability tests; Expansion joints; Girder bridges; High temperature; Prestressed concrete bridges; Structural members; Summer
• Uncontrolled Terms: Heat waves (Meteorology)
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01543143
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Southern Plains Transportation Center
• Contract Numbers: DTRT13-G-UTC36, SPTC 14.1-21
• Files: UTC, RiP
• Created Date: Nov 9 2014 1:00AM