Temperature Regulated Concrete Bridges

Temperature Regulated Concrete Bridges

Van der Meer, T.E.

Hordijk, D.A. (mentor)
Blom, C.B.M. (mentor)
Bouwmeester-van den Bos, J. (mentor)
Groeneweg, T.W. (mentor)

Civil Engineering and Geosciences

Structural Engineering

2015-08-19

Concrete bridges are subjected to large lateral deformations, which if restrained will also lead to large (axial) stresses in the structure. If unrestrained these deformations caused by temperature variation and shrinkage, can become problematic for bridges of sufficient continuous length. If deformation is restrained to some degree, then the structure will also be subjected to large stresses proportionally to how much the structure resits deformation. Both deformation and stresses can cause problems if it becomes too large. If the relative weak to tensile stresses concrete is subjected to tensile stresses exceeding concrete tensile strength, than in case of axial stress, large thorough cracks will develop in the bridge deck. To prevent this are expensive and maintenance heavy expansion joints often used to allow free deformation and prevent the development of stresses. In this study an alternate approach was proposed to reduce temperature load. Temperature of the bridge deck can be regulated by embedding hydronic heat exchangers into the concrete. This results in large reduction of temperature and with it temperature related deformation and stresses. Total axial stresses could be reduced enough that in most or all cases no thorough cracks will develop, reducing or removing the need of expansion joints. Furthermore longer bridges are possible as the limiting factor, thermal deformation, can significantly be reduced. The Thermal Energy Reservoir needed to store and extract the thermal energy from the bridge, is smaller in size per square bridge in comparison to similar projects (de-icers). Regulating bridge temperature can due to the relative low thermal energy cost and ease to reduce temperature load be an efficient method to increase the application of continuous bridges and reducing the need of dilatation.

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Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2015 Van der Meer, T.E.