Question :
Given site condition Maximum seasonal temperature is 45 deg C and Minimum is 15 deg C.In staad pro, if we specify a temperature change for axial elongation input as 30, will this account for this condition. Or should we incorprate in addition an input value of -30.
Answer :
You have to know three temperatures :
1) the stress-free temperature, which is the temperature that the beam was at when it was constructed or installed. Call it A.
2) The temperature of the top fiber (the fiber that is farthest along the positive direction of the local Y axis). Call it B.
3) The temperature of the bottom fiber (the fiber that is farthest along the negative direction of the local Y axis). Call it C.
When you specify the temperature load, the command is
member-list TEMPERATURE f1 f2
where
f1 = (B+C)/2 - A