ABSTRACT
The knowledge of stress levels developing in a given structural member as a result of thermal effects is very important for many different types of concrete structures including massive constructions (especially at early ages), dams, foundations, nuclear power plants, chimneys, storage tanks for cryogenic gases, high-strength concrete structures, structural elements exposed to fire, and structures exposed to daily temperature variations and solar radiation. The main objective of studies on thermal effects in structures is to determine the highest values of thermal gradients between the interior and the exterior of the structural element. Such gradients, caused by a nonlinear temperature distribution, can lead to significant thermal stresses. This work consists of three parts. The first part presents the basic overview of a general, finite element-based, numerical model developed for thermal analysis of structures under different conditions (heat of hydration, fire, environmental action). In the second part a brief description of the capabilities of the PFEM_2D T program developed by using the object-oriented programming (OOP) technique is given. finally, in the third part an application of the PFEM_2D T and PFEM_2D AT program in the field-study to the dam of Cana Brava hydroelectric plant (Goiás state – Brazil) is presented.
