FIGURE 1.6.

10 Top and bottom sides of a beam along local Y axis

FIGURE 1.6.11 Top and bottom sides of a beam along local Z axis

1.6.2.9 Analysis Procedure for Temperature Gradient across the Depth or

Width of a Frame Member
1. Fix the two ends of the member on which the temperature change is applied. The moment
induced in the member would now be E*Alpha*MI*dT/Depth,

where E = Young’s modulus

Alpha = coefficient of thermal expansion

MI and Depth = moment of inertia and dimension of the section corresponding to the axis about
which the temperature change takes place. So, (Iz and D) or (Iy and B).

dT = temperature change

Call this moment P3.

2. The fixities are removed and this moment is now applied at the two joints in opposite
directions. The structure is analyzed for the joint moments. The moment causes the structure
 to deform. The moment induced in the member due to the node displacements are then
calculated. Call this moment P4.
P4 minus P3 will give us the final moment in the member due to the temperature change.

1.6.2.9.1 Member Depth and Width

As explained in Section 1.6.2.9, when the temperature varies along the depth or width of the
section, the values of depth and/or width are needed to calculate the moment induced in the
member. So, it is important to pay attention to how the properties for the member are specified.
For sections assigned from the built-in property tables, these dimensions are automatically
retrieved by the program from the property databases. But when the properties are assigned using
PRISMATIC, User Table, or other methods that do not involve built-in tables, it is essential that
the dimensions of the cross-section be included along with other computed property terms.
Otherwise, the program may assume a value for the dimensions when calculating the moments due
to the temperature gradient. The value assumed is mentioned in Section 1 of the Technical
Reference manual.
So, in the following expression,

MEMBER PROPERTIES
31 TO 34 PRIS AX 164.29 AY 85.35 AZ 100.55 IX 5532 IY 24841 - IZ 96964

the depth is absent, which means the program will have to assume the dimensions for processing a
temperature that causes bending about the depth or width of members 31–34.

Related Question:
If I have a beam framing into a column at mid-height, it does not appear as though the thermal
axial force in the beam causes additional bending in the column. Is this true?

Answer:
The amount of moment that the column receives will depend on the relative stiffness of the
members in the structure. If the column is comparatively weak, it will deform without much
resistance. A column with fixed supports at its base instead of pinned supports will have greater
resistance to the temperature load in the beam. A stiffer column will probably see a larger moment
than a weaker column.

Related Question:
If the highest temperature during the year of the place where my structure is located is 44 degrees
Celsius, and, the lowest temperature is 18, should I specify 44 minus 18 as the temperature that
causes axial elongation in the plate elements of a roof slab?

Answer:
No. We need to know the ambient temperature (stress-free temperature) too. Let us say that it is
30 degrees Celsius. Assume that the temperature change is purely of the “f1” type, meaning, we
are not going to worry about a variation in temperature across the thickness of the roof slab. We
will have to create two load cases. In one, f1 is equal to a temperature increase equal to 44 – 30 =
14 degrees Celsius. In the other, f1 will be a reduction equal to 18 – 30 = –12 degrees Celsius.
Related Question:
I need to analyze a deck slab for a temperature change of ±60 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition,
there is a temperature gradient of 25 degrees Fahrenheit between the top and bottom surfaces of
the slab. How do I do this? The slab has been modeled using plate elements.

Answer:
If we assume that the temperature at the stress-free condition is A, then the structure must be
analyzed for two conditions, each of which must have its own load case.
Condition 1:
(a) temperature at the top of concrete reaching (A + 60 + 12.5)
(b) temperature at the bottom of concrete reaching (A + 60 – 12.5)
Assuming that all the plate elements have the local Z axis pointing along the global Y direction,
we specify this using the following syntax.

element-list TEMPERATURE 60 25

The first number (60) is equal to the average temperature you want to design for minus the
temperature corresponding to the stress-free condition. The second number is the temperature of
the top surface (the fiber at the +Z surface) minus the temperature of the bottom surface (fiber at
the –Z surface). Hence, it is important that the +Z surface corresponds to top of deck.
For example,

LOAD 10 TEMPERATURE INCREASE

TEMPERATURE LOAD
501 TO 588 TEMP 60 25

Condition 2:
(a) temperature at the top of concrete reaching (A – 60 – 12.5)
(b) temperature at the bottom of concrete reaching (A – 60 + 12.5)
The syntax for this is

element-list TEMPERATURE -60 -25

For example,

LOAD 11 TEMPERATURE DECREASE

TEMPERATURE LOAD
501 TO 588 TEMP -60 -25

Related Question:
I was trying to apply a temperature gradient between the top and bottom flange of a wide flange
beam. I managed to get moments out of it as expected, but when I tried to change the size of that
member without changing the temperature gradient, the stress results I obtain are exactly the same.
Does STAAD.Pro take into account the beam depth when doing temperature gradient
calculations?

Answer:
STAAD.Pro uses E*a*I z*ΔT/Depth to compute the bending moment, where ΔT is the difference
in temperature (T top – T bottom) from the bottom to top of the section. Most sections require that
the depth be entered. If you enter a depth of zero or leave it out of prismatic, then STAAD.Pro
will use a depth of 10 in. and write a message. If there are cover plates, the depth is increased by
the cover plate thicknesses.

Related Question:
I have a question on the temperature load command. If I have the following:

1 TO 10 TEMP 50 25

would this mean that the top side of the plate is at 50 degrees and that the bottom side is at 75
degrees?
If the command was changed to

1 TO 10 TEMP 50 -25

would the top side be at 50 degrees and the bottom side at 25 degrees?

Answer:
Assuming that the stress-free temperature is zero degrees,

1 TO 10 TEMP 50 25

means top is 62.5 degrees and the bottom is 37.5 degrees. The average is 50 degrees and the top-
bottom difference is 25 degrees.

1 TO 10 TEMP 50 -25

means top is 37.5 degrees and the bottom is 62.5 degrees. The average is 50 degrees and the top-
bottom difference is –25 degrees.

1.6.2.10 Conversion of Units of Temperature

A common problem that users encounter is converting from centigrade to Fahrenheit when
specifying the temperature load. The temperature load input that we provide to the program is the
change in temperature, not the absolute temperature. So, a change amounting to 68 degrees
Fahrenheit is equivalent to a change of 68/1.8 = 37.7778 centigrade.
Instead, users erroneously specify the value as 20, based on the calculation (68 – 32)/1.8. This
calculation is not valid because we are not trying to determine absolute temperatures, but only a
change in temperature.
Alpha in centigrade divided by 1.8 should give you Alpha in Fahrenheit. Basically, Alpha(F) *
T(F) must equal the Alpha(C) * T(C).

Related Question:
I am modeling a floor slab with a subgrade “k” value and the compression-only feature. I am
applying a temperature gradient to the plate elements to simulate shrinkage of the concrete causing
the edges and corners of the slab to curl up off of the subgrade. So, the geometry has changed
because the slab is no longer supported at all nodes. Now I want to apply floor loads to this new
geometry, which will push the floor back down and start to re-engage the subgrade, which changes
the supported nodes again.
Is there some way to model this using the change command or non-linear analysis?

Answer:
Superimposing the temperature gradient and the floor loads in one load case is an alternative. With
the compression-only option you have chosen, STAAD.Pro will determine which points are in
contact with the subgrade for the combined action of all the load items in that load case. So only
those springs that are in contact for that load case are activated, which makes the solution
nonlinear.

Related Question:
I am modeling an I-shape using plate elements—one layer of plates for each of the flanges, and
two layers of plates for the web. A zoomed-in view of a portion of the model is shown. I want to
analyze for a temperature increase of 1000 degrees for the top flange, 100 degrees for the bottom
flange, and linearly varying across the depth of the web. Please tell me how to input this.

FIGURE 1.6.12 I-Beam modeled using plate elements

Answer:
For the mathematical model shown in Fig 1.6.12, if the bottom flange elements experience an
increase in temperature of 100 degrees, top flange elements are hotter by 1000, and if the neutral