"THERMAL" --- THERMAL EFFECTS FOR STEEL BUILDING OR STRUCTURE

Program Description:

"THERMAL" is a spreadsheet program written in MS-Excel for the purpose of considering the thermal effects for a
steel building or structure. Specifically, the appropriate maximum design temperature change, the change of
length or stress as applicable, and the maximum building or structure length either without or between expansion
joints is determined. There is also a "General Thermal Effects Calculator" which can be used to selectively
determine any of the analysis parameters, as well as a temperature converter which can be used to convert from
o
C (Celsius) to oF (Fahrenheit).

This program is a workbook consisting of three (3) worksheets, described as follows:

Worksheet Name Description

Doc This documentation sheet
Thermal Effects Thermal Effects for Steel Building or Structure
General Thermal Effects Calc. General Thermal Effects Calculator for Various Analysis Parameters

Program Assumptions and Limitations:

1. This program is based on the following references:

A. "Expansion Joints in Buildings" - Technical Report No. 65
by: Federal Construction Council for National Academy of Sciences, 1974
B. Steel Construction Manual - 13th Edition (pages 2-31 to 2-33 and page 17-23)
by: American Instritute of Steel Construction (AISC), 2005
C. "Expansion Joints: Where, When and How"
by: James M Fisher, S.E. - published in Modern Steel Construction Magazine, April 2005
2. This program uses the recommendations from Section II.A of Reference A (from above) to determine the
appropriate maximum design temperature change, DT, expressed in oF. This value may then be utilized in
either a 2-D or 3-D computer analysis model to determine the overall effects of the temperature change on the
building or structure.
3. This program uses the criteria from Section II.B.1.a of Reference A (from above) to determine the need for
building or structure expansion joints.
 "THERMAL.xls" Program
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THERMAL EFFECTS FOR STEEL BUILDING OR STRUCTURE

Determine Max. Design Temperature Change, Change of Length or Stress as Applicable,
and Max. Length either without or between Expansion Joints
Job Name: Subject: Temp. Change, DT1 =
Job Number: Originator: Temp. Change, DT2 =
Checker:
Maximum Design DT =
Input Data:

Summer Temp., Tw = 130.0 o

F Tw = Temp. exceeded only 1% of time during Thermal
summer Exp. Coef., a =
months
Mean Temp., Tm = 80.0 o
F Tm = Mean temp. during normal construction season DL =
Winter Temp., Tc = 46.0 o
F Tc = Temp. exceeded 99% of time during winter months
Length, L = 500.00 ft. L = Length of building or structure to be considered
Heated Building? Yes Mod. of Elasticity, E =
Air Conditioned Building? Yes Thermal Exp. Coef., a =
Fixed Base Columns? No Stress Change, Ds =
Vastly Uneq. End Stiff.? No

Results: (from Ref. #1, Figure 1)

Length, L(allow) =
Determine Max. Design Temperature Change, DT, per Ref. #1:
Temp. Change, DT1 = 50.0 o
F DT1 = Tw-Tm R1 =
Temp. Change, DT2 = 34.0 o
F DT2 = Tm-Tc R2 =
Maximum Design DT = 50.0 o
F DT = Maximum of: DT1 or DT2 R3 =
R4 =
For Unrestrained Condition, Calculate Change of Length Due to Temperature Change: Length, L(max) =
Thermal Exp. Coef., a = 0.0000065 in./in./ o F a = Coefficient of thermal expansion for steel (from Ref. #2)
DL = 1.950 in. DL = a*DT*(L*12) = s*(L*12)/E = F*(L*12)/(A*E) where: s = F/A

For Restrained Ends, Calculate Change in the Unit Stress Due to Temperature Change:
Mod. of Elasticity, E = 29000 ksi E = 29000 (assumed modulus of elasticity for steel)
Thermal Exp. Coef., a = 0.0000065 in./in./ o F a = Coefficient of thermal expansion for steel (from Ref. #2)
Stress Change, Ds = 9.425 ksi Ds = a*E*DT

Determine Max. Building or Structure Length either without or between Expansion Joints:
(from Ref. #1, Figure 1) for: DT <= 25, L(allow) = 600 ft.
Length, L(allow) = 488.89 ft. for: 25 < DT > 70, L(allow) = -(200/45)*Dt+(600+25*(200/45)) ft.
for: DT >= 70, L(allow) = 400 ft.
R1 = 0.15 R1 = +0.15 if building is heated and air-conditioned, else 0
R2 = 0 R2 = -0.33 if building is unheated, else 0
R3 = 0 R3 = -0.15 if columns are fixed base in length direction, else 0
R4 = 0 R4 = -0.25 if bldg. has vastly greater stiffness at one end, else 0
Length, L(max) = 562.22 ft. L(max) = L(allow)*(1+(R1+R2+R3+R4)) L <= L(max), O.K.

References: 1. "Expansion Joints in Buildings" - Technical Report No. 65

by: Federal Construction Council for National Academy of Sciences, 1974
2. Steel Construction Manual - 13th Edition (pages 2-31 to 2-33 and page 17-23)
by: American Instritute of Steel Construction (AISC), 2005
3. "Expansion Joints: Where, When and How"
by: James M Fisher, S.E. - published in Modern Steel Construction Magazine, April 2005

Comments:

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A llo w a b le B u ild in g L e n g th (ft.)

Rectangular Multiframed
Configuration with
Symmetrical Stiffness

700.0

600.0

Steel
500.0

400.0

300.0

200.0

100.0

0.0
0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0 90.0 100.0
Design Temperature Change (oF)

FIGURE 1: Maximum allowable building length without use of expansion joints for various design
temperature changes. This curve is directly applicable to steel buildings of beam-and-
column construction, hinged at base, and with heated interiors.
When other conditions prevail, the following rules are applicable:

(a) If the building will be heated only and will have hinged-column bases, use the allowable
length as specified.
(b) If the building will be air conditioned as well as heated, increase the allowable length by
15% (provided the environmental control system will run continuously).
(c) If the building will be unheated, decrease the allowable length by 33%.
(d) If the building will have fixed-column bases, decrease the allowable length by 15%.
(e) If the building will have substantially greater stiffness against lateral displacement at one
end of the plan dimension, decrease the allowable length by 25%.

Note: When more than one of these design conditions prevail in a building, the percentile
factor to be applied should be the algebraic sum of the adjustment factors of all of the
various applicable conditions.

Reference: "Expansion Joints in Buildings" - Technical Report No. 65

by: Federal Construction Council for National Academy of Sciences, 1974
(Note: Figure 1 from above reference is same as Figure 2-6 from AISC 13th Ed. Manual.)

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GENERAL THERMAL EFFECTS CALCULATOR

for Determining Various Parameters
of Thermal Expansion/Contraction Analysis
Job Name: Subject:
Job Number: Originator: Checker:

Input and Result:

Solve for Thermal Expansion Coefficient, a: Coefficients of Expansion, a (in/in/oF)

Ti = 80.00 o
F Initial Temperature Materials Fahrenheit
Tf = 130.00 o F Final Temperature Aluminum (wrought) 0.0000128
Li = 200.0000 ft. Initial Length Brass 0.0000104
Lf = 200.0650 ft. Final Length Bronze 0.0000101
a = 0.0000065 in./in./ o F a = (Lf-Li)/(Li*(Tf-Ti)) Copper 0.0000093

Metals and Alloys

Iron (cast, gray) 0.0000059
Solve for Initial Length, Li: Iron (wrought) 0.0000067
a = 0.0000065 in./in./ o F Thermal Exp. Coef. Iron (wire) 0.0000069
Ti = 80.00 o
F Initial Temperature Lead 0.0000159
Tf = 130.00 o F Final Temperature Magnesium (alloys) 0.0000160
Lf = 200.0650 ft. Final Length Nickel 0.0000070
Li = 200.0000 ft. Li = Lf/(a*(Tf-Ti)+1) Steel (mild) 0.0000065
Steel (stainless) 0.0000099
Solve for Final Length, Lf: Zinc (rolled) 0.0000173
a = 0.0000065 in./in./ o F Thermal Exp. Coef. Masonry (ashlar) 0.0000035
Ti = 80.00 o
F Initial Temperature Masonry (brick) 0.0000034
Stone and Masonry

Tf = 130.00 o F Final Temperature Cement (portland) 0.0000070

Li = 200.0000 ft. Initial Length Concrete 0.0000055
Lf = 200.0650 ft. Lf = a*Li*(Tf-Ti)+Li Granite 0.0000044
Limestone 0.0000042
Solve for Initial Temperature, Ti: Marble 0.0000045
a = 0.0000065 in./in./ o F Thermal Exp. Coef. Plaster 0.0000092
Tf = 130.00 o F Final Temperature Rubble (masonry) 0.0000035
Li = 200.0000 ft. Initial Length Sandstone 0.0000054
Lf = 200.0650 ft. Final Length Slate 0.0000044
Ti = 80.00 o
F Ti = Tf-(Lf-Li)/(a*Li) Fir (parallel to fiber) 0.0000021
Maple (parallel to fiber) 0.0000036
Solve for Final Temperature, Tf: Oak (parallel to fiber) 0.0000027
Timber

a = 0.0000065 in./in./ o F Thermal Exp. Coef. Pine (parallel to fiber) 0.0000030

Ti = 80.00 o
F Initial Temperature Fir (perpend. to fiber) 0.0000320
Li = 200.0000 ft. Initial Length Maple (perpend. to fiber) 0.0000270
Lf = 200.0650 ft. Final Length Oak (perpend. to fiber) 0.0000300
Tf = 130.00 o F Tf =(Lf-Li)/(a*Li)+Ti Pine (perpend. to fiber) 0.0000190

Reference: Steel Construction Manual - 13th Edition (pages 2-31 to 2-33 and page 17-23)
by: American Instritute of Steel Construction (AISC), 2005

Comments:

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