Extreme Thermal Loadings in Highway Bridges

Thermal loadings acting on highway bridges are treated as random variables. Values of such loadings for a 50‐year return period are determined based on an analysis of the statistics of extremes. A one‐dimensional heat‐flow model is assumed. Accuracy of the mathematical model is checked by comparison with field measurements. Evans's method, which is used to calculate the first four moments of a random function, is described. Emphasis is placed on the statistical aspect of the thermal loadings rather than on the numerical modeling of the heat‐flow problem.