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"Thermal" - Thermal Effects For Steel Building or Structure
"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).
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 = 6.5E-06 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.
Comments:
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"THERMAL.xls" Program
Version 1.0
3 of 7 01/23/2022 07:00:30
"THERMAL.xls" Program
Version 1.0
Rectangular Multiframed
Configuration with
Symmetrical Stiffness
700
600
Steel
500
400
300
200
100
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
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.
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"THERMAL.xls" Program
Version 1.0
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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"THERMAL.xls" Program
Version 1.0
7 of 7 01/23/2022 07:00:30