Numerical simulation of temperature-induced structural strain for a long-span suspension bridge

Temperature effect is one of the most significant and negative effects on bridges, even worse for long-span bridges. In this study, numerical method for temperature-induced structural strains analysis based on a long-span suspension bridge is investigated. The finite element (FE) models for transient thermal analysis and structural analysis of the long-span suspension bridge are developed, respectively. The variations and distributions of structural temperatures are calculated by applying the thermal boundary conditions on the thermal FE models. Then, structural temperatures are loaded on the structural FE models for structural analysis to obtain the structural strains. The temperature-induced strains of box girder, main cables and towers of the suspension bridge are calculated and analyzed. The results indicated that the temperature effects on the main components of suspension bridge are significant. The structural temperature variations exactly explicate the changes of environmental conditions. The strains of temperature effects not only caused by temperatures of itself, but also the impact of other components. This numerical method can conveniently and effectively calculate the structural temperatures and temperature-induced strains of suspension bridge.