Mechanics of Materials(ME-294)

Lecture 5:
Thermal Stress and Strain

Thermal Deflection
From the graph, the slope
=t /T.
Since strain is a dimensionless quantity, the coefficient
of thermal expansion has units equal to the reciprocal of
temperature change.
In SI units the dimensions of can be expressed as
either 1/K (the reciprocal of kelvins) or 1/C (the
reciprocal of degrees Celsius). The value of is the same
in both cases because a change in temperature is
numerically the same in both kelvins and degrees
Celsius.
Substitute the definition of strain, =/L , and we have
= /L(T) .
Rewrite the equation to solve for thermal deflection:
=L(T) .

Thermal Expansion and Thermal Stress

Heat a piece of steel and it will expand.
Cool the same piece, and it will shrink.
Plot the strain as a function of
temperature change, and for most
materials, you get a relatively straight
line.
The slope of the line is called the
coefficient of thermal expansion and is
denoted by Greek letter (alpha) .
It tells us how much strain we can
expect for a given temperature change.

Coefficient of Thermal Expansion

The thermal expansion coefficient is a materials property; different materials
expand at different rates.
For example, aluminum expands about twice as much as steel for a given
temperature change, because for Aluminum=23106C1 and for
Steel=12106C1 .
One reason we use steel as a reinforcement in concrete is for
Concrete=11106C1 , so the steel and concrete expand and contract at
roughly the same rate.
If the matrix and reinforcement in a composite expand at different rates, then the
matrix and reinforcement may separate under repeated thermal cycles.
The change in temperature can be positive or negative, and is defined as the final
temperature minus the original temperature: T=TfTo . If the material is cooled
from 70F to 40F, the change in temperature is T=40F70F=30F . If the
material is heated from 70F to 90F, the change in temperature is
T=90F70F=+20F

Example
A 5 m aluminum flagpole is installed at 20C. Overnight, the
temperature drops to -5C. How much does the height change, in
millimeters? What is the final height of the flagpole, in meters?
Thermal expansion coefficient for aluminum is for
Aluminum=23106C1
Solution :
First, calculate the change in length using =L(T).
Change in length =L(T)=2.88mm .
The negative sign indicates the flagpole is getting shorter.
Final length Lf=L+=5m2.88mm =4.997m

Example
Two cantilever beams made of different materials have
a measurable gap between their ends. As the bars heat
up, they grow towards each other and eventually meet if
the temperature rises enough. Each bar has a different
thermal coefficient of expansion. How do we calculate
the temperature
T f at which they meet?
Consider that the gap between the two bars equals
total = steel + brass
Substitute the equation for thermal expansion, and we get

The change in temperature is the same for both materials, so Rewrite the equation
to solve for temperature change:

final temperature:

Thermal Stress
If the material is restrained from expanding or contracting while the temperature
changes, then stress builds within the part.
Consider a bar of steel embedded in two blocks of concrete. If the bar heats up, it will
want to expand by an amount = L (T) .
However, the blocks of concrete prevent the bar from expanding, by exerting a force P on
the bar. We know from that an axial load will cause a bar to deform an amount .
However, the load P in this problem is compressive

Set the two deflections equal to each other

The thermal stress does not depend on the length of the bar; it depends only on
materials constants and E and the temperature change

Example
Two immovable concrete blocks are connected by a steel wire.
At 72F there is no stress in the wire. If the wire cools from
72F to 55F, what is the stress in the wire? =6.5106F1
and E=30106psi
Solution :
Thermal stress =E(T)=6.5106 F 30106lb. in.2
(55F72F) =3,315psi
The positive sign indicates the wire is under a tensile stress.
The wire cooled and wanted to shrink, but the concrete blocks
prevented it from shrinking, leaving the wire in tension

Example
Two immovable concrete blocks are connected with a 2
inch by 2 inch square bar. At 72F there is no stress in
the bar. If the bar heats from 72F to 102F, what is the
stress in the bar? How much force do the blocks exert
on the bar? =6.5106F1 and E=30106psi .
Solution
Thermal stress =E(T)=6.5106 F 30106lb. in.2 (102F72F)
=5,850psi
The negative sign indicates the bar is under a compressive stress.
The bar heated up and wanted to expand, but the concrete blocks prevented it
from expanding, leaving the bar in compression.

We can find the force exerted by the walls from the thermal stresss: thermal=P /
A .Rewrite the equation to solve for force: P thermal= thermal /A=5,850lb. in.2
2in.2in.=23,400lb. The negative sign shows that the force is compressive.

Thermal Stress
Some thermal expansion problems
require both the deflection and the stress
equations.
For example, if this cantilever beam
heats up sufficiently, it will meet the
right-hand wall.
If the temperature continues to rise,
stress will build up in the beam.
If you know the initial length, material,
and temperatures To and T2 (but not
temperature T1), how do you find the
thermal stress?

Use the thermal deflection equation and the temperature change T=T 1To to
figure out temperature T1, then use the thermal stress equation and the
temperature change T=T2T1 to figure out thermal at temperature T2.