Investigation of Thermal Gradient Effects in the I-35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 18, Issue 9
Abstract
Thermal gradients were measured through the section of the I-35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge, a posttensioned concrete box girder bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, over the course of 3 years. The magnitudes and shapes of the measured thermal gradients were compared with various design gradients, and a fifth-order curve was found to best approximate the shape of the gradients. The responses of the structure to the largest measured thermal gradients were compared with stresses and deformations predicted by finite-element modeling given applied design gradients. The measured structural response was found to be best predicted when the finite-element model of the bridge was subjected to a fifth-order design thermal gradient scaled to match maximum top surface temperature values proposed by AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications for the region. Stresses and deformations predicted by finite-element modeling using the AASHTO LRFD bilinear design gradients were found to be considerably lower than those derived from measured results. Recommendations for design thermal gradients are proposed.
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Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the support of the Minnesota DOT. Numerical computations were performed using resources provided by the University of Minnesota Supercomputing Institute. The opinions expressed herein represent those of the authors and not necessarily those of the sponsors.
References
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 18 • Issue 9 • September 2013
Pages: 890 - 900
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 16, 2012
Accepted: Sep 11, 2012
Published online: Sep 13, 2012
Published in print: Sep 1, 2013
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