Modeling of thermal behavior of concrete bridge girders

Bridges continuously lose and gain heat due to climatological changes in the surrounding environment. The heat transfer occurs through three principal mechanisms: radiation from the sun, convection of heat between the surface and the ambient air, and re-radiation of the surface to or from the surrounding environment. The interaction between the surface of the structure and the climatological environment results in temperature difference between the elements of the structure. These temperature differences, in turns, produce deformations, cracks and strains in bridge girders and concrete part of bridges. In this research, finite element analysis is carried out to understand the temperature distribution and temperature gradients that occur within the different parts of the concrete deck and girders of prestressed concrete bridges under time dependent Gaziantep thermal conditions. The finite element package COMSOL Multiphysics and CSI Bridge are used to conduct the thermal analysis of the bridge girders, statistical analyzes have been carried out which should be taken into consideration during bridge design.