Thermal stress analysis in pre-stressed concrete bridges using COMSOL Multiphysics

Temperature variations can induce significant thermal stresses in pre-stressed concrete (PSC) bridge structures, leading to cracking, deflection, and long-term durability issues. This study presents a detailed numerical analysis of thermal stress development in PSC bridge girders using COMSOL Multiphysics. The investigation incorporates transient thermal loading, material heterogeneity, and boundary restraints, with the finite element model calibrated against empirical formulas and standards from AASHTO and Eurocode. Results indicate that extreme thermal gradients significantly affect stress distribution across bridge sections, especially near anchor zones and connections. The study highlights critical design considerations for mitigating thermal stress in long-span bridges and confirms the efficacy of COMSOL Multiphysics in thermomechanical simulations.