Measurement of Temperature Distribution Within Steel Box Girder of Vistula River Bridge in Central Europe

Abstract

Uneven temperature distribution in a structural element constitutes one of its load factors. Temperature fields occurring in structural elements lead to stresses and strains. The values of internal stresses are directly related to temperature distribution and degree of freedom for element deformation. The best way to get information about temperature distribution in an element is to take measurements on a real object. Such measurements have been run or are still taken over decades in various parts of the world, e.g. in Western Europe, USA, China, South America. In a number of cases, such examinations were carried out for objects constructed in warm or hot climate. It is a lot harder to find the results of measurements made in the countries with moderate and transitional climate, like in the Central or East-Central Europe. This paper presents measurement methodology and results gained for a large steel bridge located in the East European Plain, about 52.5° N northern latitude. Permanently installed contact sensors, temporary sensors, as well as pyrometry and thermography were used. An attempt was made to determine temperature distribution in a steel box girder of a bridge using thermovision technique. Approximate temperature distribution patterns in the main span girder were determined from thermal photographs taken. The most important results of examinations are the images of temperature fields in the main span girder related to solar radiation that first and foremost directly affects the bridge deck.

SHM System and a FEM Model-Based Force Analysis Assessment in Stay Cables

“…Comparing the calculated and measured values, it is visible how much they differ from each other. This indicates how complicated the temperature distribution problem is concerning bridges [ 11 ] or other civil engineering structures [ 12 , 13 ]. The SHM bridge system measures these values at a few selected points, which gives only a local view of these changes, and does not characterise the entire temperature distribution in the whole structure.…”

“…However, the analysis of the temperature distribution in whole suspended structures composed of various materials is a complex issue and requires further and more accurate measurements than just SHM-based measurements to be able to create a representative load model. A complex description of temperature distribution in bridges is presented, e.g., in [ 11 ]. It is also worth adding that the differences in temperature distribution, that should be applied to the calculation models, are included in the design standards.…”