THERMAL ANALYSIS FOR BEAM

In case of bridges, girders may subject to the expansion or contraction effect due to temperature
stresses. The temperature analysis of the beam is carried out by using SAP2000 which includes
following stages.
Steps:-
1) Definition of material properties in SAP2000: Define the materials properties of concrete
and reinforcing steel as M25 grade and Fe415 which is as shown in Fig 1.

Fig 1. Material properties definition

2) Definition of geometric properties: Beam used in the analysis is having width and depth
equal to 230 mm and 450 mm respectively which is shown in the Fig. 2.

Fig. 2. Frame Properties

3) Assigning end restraint: Beam is drawn by using beam element as shown in Fig. 3 and the
end restraints are assigned as shown in Fig 4. i.e. hinge support at end A and roller
support at B and end C.

Fig. 3. 1-D Beam Element

Fig. 4. Joint Restraints

4) Definition of temperature load: The temperature load is defined in the load cases in other
type load pattern with self multiplies equal to zero as shown in the Fig. 5. Analysis
includes different 3 load cases as given below and also shown in the Fig. 6.
Temp1 = Uniform temperature load =42.5o
Temp2 = Temperature gradient (along 2-2) =77.77o
Temp3 = Uniform temperature load + Temperature gradient
Assign the load to the beam Assign => Frame Loads => Temperature

T1=60

T2 =25 T1 T 2 T1 T 2
42.5 77.77
2 D
 Fig. 5. Load Pattern for thermal analysis

Fig. 6. Temperature loading

5) Results of the analysis: Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 show the shear force diagrams and Fig. 9 and
Fig. 10 show the bending moment diagrams for different load cases due to temperature
effect.

Fig 7. Shear force due to Temp2 Fig 8. Shear force due to Temp3

Fig 9. Bending moment due to Temp2 Fig 10. Bending moment due to Temp3
6) The deflection of the beam at B and C due to temperature loads are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Deflection and BM due to temperature load
Load Deflection at Deflection at Axial Shear Bending
case B C force force(kN) Moment(kN-m)
(U1) (m) (U1) (m)
Temp1 0.0025 0.005 0 0 0
Temp2 0 0 0 8.37 50.22
Temp3 0.0025 0.005 0 12.94 77.67

The above analysis showed that

a) No axial forces are developed as beam is free to move in U1 direction. (No
temperature stresses).
b) The temperature gradient creates flexural action in the member which is indicated by
Table 1.