Temperature load effects in bridge design

[Anonymous]

New to temperature considerations in structural design. My question is probably very simple... In bridge design, are the load factors and load combination factors applied to the actual prescribed extreme temperatures or to their effects? Any enlightenment with examples?

[simon_hooper]

Hi Nii

All the factors shown on the loading and compilation forms are applied to the loads when applied to the structure. The resulting effects transfered to the design beam include these factors.  

When viewing the results, double click on a cell to show a sub-table detailing the derivation and the factors applied, e.g. the break down of the Mx value for member 2 - joint 2 is

If the design beam load data part of the data report is examined following transfer of effects you will see the details of the factors that were applied:

The workflow videos are a good complete example

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/structural-bridge-design-forum/asbd-2017-tutorial-videos/td-p/7329212

I hope this helps

Simon

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Simon. Appreciate your response very much. I will look into that. Actually, my question was kind of general. That if you are running an FE analysis involving temperature effects, say, and you have to apply a load factor to the temperature, and you have been given the extreme temperature range to apply to the structural member, I was wondering whether the load factor is applied to the temperature itself or there's another way to handle temperature factors. is it at all acceptable to apply load factors to temperature values of the factors are to be applied to the temperature effects, depending on type of problem? Thanks.

[simon_hooper]

Whether you apply the factor to the load itself or to a compilation containing the load, the end effect is the same.  Factoring the loadcase in a compilation is probably easier. 

[Anonymous]

Excellent. Thanks, Simon.