Determination of temperature distribution within a bridge is the first step to evaluate the temperature effect on the structure. This paper aims to investigate the temperature distribution of Tsing Ma Suspension Bridge through numerical simulation and field monitoring. A numerical analysis based on the thermodynamic theory is utilized to determine the time-dependent temperature distribution of the bridge. Via appropriate assumptions, fine finite element models are constructed for thermal analysis of the deck plates, section frames, and towers. A new solar radiation model is proposed, by which the structural temperature distribution at different components at different time is calculated. The analytical results are compared with those obtained from the long-term health monitoring system and it shows the modified solar radiation model can predict the temperature variation of the bridge more accurately than the conventional radiation model.
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