Temperature Stress Analysis of Super-Long Frame Structures Accounting for Differences in the Linear Expansion Coefficients of Steel and Concrete

Temperature stress analysis is of prime importance to ensure the adequate servicing of super-long frame structures during their service life. The existing design codes and recommendations for reinforced concrete (RC) structures provide methodologies for the reinforcement of design elements that neglect differences in the linear expansion coefficients of steel and concrete. In this paper, we present a numerical method based on a degenerated three-dimensional solid virtual laminated element for simulating and analyzing the temperature stress of a two-layer super-long frame reinforced concrete structure subjected to allover cooling action, whereby the difference in the linear expansion coefficients of steel and concrete are taken into consideration. The results show that the difference in the linear expansion coefficients of steel and concrete, with different constraints, affects the temperature stress experienced by each material in the structure, and this difference adversely affects attempts to avoid structure cracking.