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Building Structure Temperatures

Building Structure Temperatures

Building Structure Temperatures

(OP)
   Is there any data out there on the year-round temperature of a building's internal structure?  

   I am located near Toronto, Canada (temperatures -30°C to +40°C).  I am starting on the design of a large, accurate optical fixture, and I am trying to sort out thermal expansion and contraction.  Does interior structure approximate the building's internal air temperature, or is it strongly influenced by outside temperature?

   I am trying to figure if I have a potential solution or a potential problem.  

               JHG

RE: Building Structure Temperatures

The inner structure approximates very much the interior temperature of the building. The gradient to outwards temperatures only steeps near the façades, and the variations of temperature even in the exterior columns or rims of floors are just a minor fraction around its equilibrium average temperature respect the daily temperature range. I think it was in a PCA publication is that there are some nice charts on it, was to calculate the effects of temperature change in the design of tall buildings around the building life, but can't give you the exact reference because in the closed cabinet I better do not access (out of encumbrance) but sometimes a year.

If an optical fixture and for outwards exposition you will have however a different situation because the ambient temperature will be affected by the continnuous aperture to external air if such. You may have, at least, radiative cooling etc and the mirror or whatever may need some special specifications (that you should try to obtain from the client); I think  they are very sensitive to these issues and have studied (at least for the optical components) since minor changes of shape enters aberration to the device what is usually unwanted, and what these low tolerances to shape change (not to say to control of internal stresses of big mirrors) have of importance has some translation to structural requirements of precision and stiffness for structural components, say, vibration control.  

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