DIGITAL COMPUTER SIMULATION FOR THE THERMAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A BRIDGE DECK

PREFERENTIAL ICING OF BRIDGE DECKS, THAT IS, THE PHENOMENON OF A BRIDGE DECK FREEZING AT TIMES WHEN THE ROADWAY IS CLEAR, IS PRIMARILY A PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE DIFFERENCE IN THE THERMAL RESPONSE OF A BRIDGE DECK TO AMBIENT WEATHER CONDITIONS AS COMPARED TO THE APPROACHWAYS. SINCE A BRIDGE IS ESSENTIALLY A FLAT SLAB EXPOSED ON TWO SIDES TO HEAT TRANSFER BOUNDARY CONDITIONS AND TEMPERATURE VARIATION, IT WAS FELT THAT A ONE-DIMENSIONAL SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM USIING A DIGITAL COMPUTER WOULD PRODUCE RELIABLE DATA ON THE TEMPERATURE GRADIENT WITHIN THE SLAB VERSUS TIME. A COMPUTER PROGRAM, SIMULATION I, IS DISCUSSED AND AN EXAMPLE OF THE RESULTS OBTAINED SHOWN. TO CHECK THE RELIABILITY OF THE RESULTS, SIMULATION I WAS PROGRAMMED TO SIMULATE THE AMBIENT AIR CONDITIONS TO WHICH A TEST SLAB IN THE LABORATORY WAS SUBJECTED. A COMPARISON OF THE RESULTS INDICATES GOOD AGREEMENT PROVIDED SURFACE BOUNDARIES CONDITIONS ON THE ACTUAL TEST SLAB ARE ACCURATELY KNOWN AND CAN BE SUPPLIED TO THE PROGRAM. /AUTHOR/

  • Corporate Authors:

    Pennsylvania State University, University Park

    Pennsylvania Transportation Institute, Transportation Research Building
    University Park, PA  United States  16802

    Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

    1215 Transportation and Safety Building
    Harrisburg, PA  United States  17120

    Bureau of Public Roads /US

    400 7th Street, SW
    Washington, DC  United States  20590
  • Authors:
    • Kuo, T
    • Birnie, C
  • Publication Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00207961
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Bureau of Public Roads /US
  • Report/Paper Numbers: 68-35
  • Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
  • Created Date: Sep 28 1970 12:00AM