Thermal Stresses in Skew Bridge by Model Test

This paper briefly describes the development of a finite layer element program for computing stresses and displacements resulting from nonlinear temperature gradients in continuous skew slab-girder bridges and deals with the experimental investigation of a two-span continuous skew bridge model with an intermediate stiffening beam. The temperature distribution through the depth of model, which constitutes the input of the finite element program, is obtained by solving the one-dimensional transient heat-flow equation. The experimental values of thermal stresses and deflections of bridge model are presented and compared with those obtained by the finite element program. An example of practical application of the program is also presented to illustrate the order of magnitude of thermal stresses expected in the two-span continuous skew bridge due to diurnal temperature variations.