Numerical calculation on solar temperature field of a cable-stayed bridge with U-shaped section on high-speed railway

Based on transient temperature field theory of heat conduction, the solar temperature field calculation model of U-shape sectioned high-speed railway cable-stayed bridge under actions of concrete beams and ballast was established. Using parametric programming language, finite element calculation modules considering climate conditions, bridge site, structure dimension and material thermophysical properties were compiled. Six standard day cycles with the strongest yearly radiation among the bridge sites were selected for sectional solar temperature field calculation and temperature distributions under different temperature-sensitive parameters were compared. The results show that under the influence of sunshine, U-shape section of the beam shows obvious nonlinear distribution characteristics and the maximum cross-section temperature difference is more than 21 °C; the ballast significantly reduces sunshine temperature difference of the beam and temperature peak of the bottom margin lags with the increase of ballast thickness; the maximum cross-section vertical temperature gradient appears in summer while large transverse temperature difference appears in winter.