An investigation of the ambient temperature field and thermal response of the Calgary Airport Trail Tunnel
Currently, there is a lack of direct design provisions in structural codes and literature that address design temperatures in tunnel structures and thus it is common practice for designers to resort to bridge codes. The main focus of this paper is the study of the temperature distribution in concrete road tunnels due to ambient temperature. In this context, the temperature distributions of the Airport Trail Tunnel in Calgary, Alberta is studied using numerical modelling and long-term temperature monitoring data collected from the tunnel. The overall aim is to evaluate findings from the numerical analysis and sensor data with current Canadian structural code provisions considered in tunnel design in regards to temperature loads. From the investigation, it is determined that the design temperature range was within CSA S6, however CSA S6 underestimates the temperature gradient effect in the walls and slabs of the tunnel under study.