Models of thermal actions for steel and composite bridges based on monitoring

The results of analysis of temperatures based on experimental bridge measurements, research reports and background documents to Eurocodes indicate that the partial factors of temperature components may be reduced to 1,2 for steel and composite bridges and to 1,3 for concrete bridges. It appears that the application of the unique value of the partial factor for most variable loads including climatic actions should be reassessed during the development of the second generation of Eurocodes. (paper)