Trrl Lr 760

A method based on the one dimensional heat flow equations published in TRRL Report LR 561 has been used in the case of a steel box bridge to calculate the deck plate temperatures resulting from various conditions of shade temperature, radiation and wind speed. The temperatures of other members of the box (i.e. other than the deck plate) may be deduced from the cross-section of the box enables the effective bridge temperature to be calculated. The method, which had previously been used for extreme environmental conditions, has been shown to give calculated temperatures which are in good agreement with those measured experimentally on days of moderate shade temperature and radiation. Some limitations on the method of calculation arise due to the rapid thermal response of steel to changes in solar radiation intensity and to the effect of bituminous surfacing on a steel deck