Skip to main content

learn.howToCalculate

learn.whatIsHeading

Thermal stress develops when temperature changes constrain material expansion. Critical in composite structures and multi-material assemblies.

Formula

Calculate: σ_th = E × α × ΔT where α is expansion coefficient
E
E value — Variable used in the calculation

Guida passo passo

  1. 1Calculate: σ_th = E × α × ΔT where α is expansion coefficient
  2. 2If constrained (cannot expand freely), stress develops
  3. 3Account for different materials with different expansions

Esempi risolti

Ingresso
Steel bar L=1m, ΔT=50K, α=12×10⁻⁶, E=200GPa, fully constrained
Risultato
σ ≈ 120 MPa tensile stress
Significant stress

Errori comuni da evitare

  • Neglecting thermal stress in composite structures
  • Assuming small temperature changes are negligible

Domande frequenti

Why do bridges have expansion joints?

To allow free expansion/contraction from temperature; otherwise excessive stress develops.

How do mismatched material expansions cause problems?

Different αbetween materials creates internal stress at interfaces that can cause cracking.

Pronto per calcolare? Prova la calcolatrice gratuita di Thermal Stress

Provalo tu stesso →

Impostazioni

PrivacyTerminiInfo© 2026 PrimeCalcPro