Temperature gradient of RC continuous curved box girder bridge

Six types of temperature gradients are introduced.Based on a case engineering,the temperature gradient of RC continuous curved box girder bridge was continuously observed,the control sections displacement for main beam was surveyed.According to the analysis of measured datum,the temperature gradient on long cantilever curved box girder bridge was proposed.With seven temperature gradient models,the control sections displacement of certain ramp bridge were calculated by finite element program ANSYS.The calculated result indicates that the T-beam's temperature gradient model that was put forward in 1985 specification for calculating displacement of long cantilever curved box girder bridge inclines to unsafety.The model in JTG D60-2004 specification is similar with AASHTO specification,and the calculated result is bigger than the measured value,but the result calculated by the model proposed in the paper is approximate to the measured value.Because the constitution of long cantilever curved box girder bridge has special character,railway bridge gauge and other temperature gradients were not suitable to apply mechanically to those types of bridge.2 tabs,11 figs,8 refs.