NON-LINEAR DIFFERENTIAL TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTIONS IN CONCRETE BRIDGE STRUCTURES: A REVIEW OF THE CURRENT LITERATURE

Traditionally, the effects of temperature in short- to medium-span concrete bridge structures have been considered in terms of overall movement only. Effects due to non-linear differential temperature distributions have normally been considered only in connection with bridges of unusual span and cross section. However, in recent years there has been considerable interest, throughout the world, in the effects of non-linear differential temperature distributions on all types of concrete bridge structure. The results of research into temperature effects have been introduced into design standards and have often resulted in a reassessment of the importance of temperature effects in the design process. In this review of the literature pertaining to temperature effects in concrete bridge structures, it is intended to give the engineer an insight into the research behind the non-linear differential temperature distributions included in codes of practice, together with some indication of how the effects of temperature could be included in the design procedure.(a) /TRRL/