Republic of the Philippines
DON HONORIO VENTURA STATE UNIVERSITY
Villa de Bacolor, Pampanga
Mechanics of Deformable Bodies
A. Course Code / Title : SM 225 / Mechanics of Deformable Bodies
B. Module Number : Module 9 - Thermal Stress
C. Time Frame : 7th week
D. Description:
This module looks into the concept of structurally indeterminate structures and
thermal stress.
E. Objectives:
At the end of this module, the learner should be able to :
1. Have a better understanding of concept of thermal stress.
2. Solve problems relating axial deformation and thermal stress.
F. Contents:
THERMAL STRESS
Temperature changes cause the body to expand or to contract. The amount of linear deformation
δT is given by:
T = L(T f − Ti )
T = L(T )
Where: α = coefficient of thermal expansion in m/m-°C,
L = length in meter,
Ti and Tf = initial and final temperature, respectively in °C.
For steel α = 11.25 x 10 -6/ °C.
If temperature deformation is permitted to occur freely, no load or stress will be induced in the
structure. In some cases where temperature deformation is not permitted, an internal stress is
created is termed as thermal stress.
General procedure for computing the loads and stresses caused when temperature deformation is
prevented:
1. Imagine the structure relieved of all applied loads and constraints so that the temperature
deformations can occur freely. Represent these deformations on a sketch and exaggerate
their effects.
2. Now imagine sufficient loads applied to the structure to restore it to the specified
conditions of restraint. Represent these loads and corresponding load deformations on the
sketch for the step 1.
3. The geometric relations between the temperature and the load deformations on the sketch
give equation which together with the equation of static equilibrium maybe solved for all
unknown quantities.
Problems:
1. Steel railroad rails 10m long are laid with a clearance of 3mm at a temperature of 15°C.
At what temperature will the rails just touch? What stress would be induced in the rails at
that temperature if there were no initial clearance? Assume α = 11.7 μm/ (m-°C) and E =
200 GPa.
Given:
δT = 1.5mm
10 m 10 m 10 m
Solution;
a. Temperature for the rails to touch.
δT = αL(Tf - Ti)
3mm = 11.7 x 10 -6 m/m-°C (10000mm) (Tf - 15)
Tf = 40.64°C (temperature for rails to touch)
b. Thermal stress
PL
=
AE
L
T = T
E
10000mm
3mm = T
200000 MPa
T = 60 MPa
2. At 20°C there is a gap Δ = 0.2mm between the lower end of the bronze bar and the rigid
slab supported by two steel bars, as shown. Neglect the mass of the slab; determine the
stress in each rod when the temperature of the assembly is increased to 100°C. For the
bronze rod, A = 600mm2, E = 83GPa and α = 18.9 μm/(m-°C). For each steel rod, A =
400mm2, E = 200 GPa and α = 11.7μm/(m-°C).
Bronze
L = 4m
Steel Steel
L = 3m L = 3m
a Δ = 0.2mm a
Solution:
✓ Consider FBD of slab:
PS PB
PS
a a
ΣFv = 0 ↑+
2PS - PB = 0
2PS = PB → eq. 1
✓ Consider deformation of the rods:
Bronze
L = 4m
Steel Steel
L = 3m L = 3m
Original level of slab
Δ = 0.2mm
δT
δT Final level of slab
δP
δP
Solving for deformation of steel:
T = L(T f − Ti )
T = 11.7 x10 − 6 / C (3000mm)(100 − 20 C )
T = 2.808mm
PL
P =
AE
PS (3000mm)
P =
(
400mm2 200000 N / mm2 )
P = 3.75 x10 PS −5
Solving for deformation of Bronze:
T = L(T f − Ti )
T = 18.9 x10 −6 (4000mm)(100 − 20)
T = 6.048mm
PL
P =
AE
PB (4000mm)
P =
(
600mm2 83000 N / mm2 )
P = 8.03 x10 PB
−5
Consider the deformation of the two rods:
T + P S = T − P − 0.20B
2.808 + 3.75 x10 −5 PS = 6.048 − 8.03 x10 −5 PB − 0.20
8.03 x10 −5 PB = 3.04 − 3.75 x10 −5 PS
PB = 37858.03 − 0.467 PS → eq.2
Equate 1 and 2:
PB = PB
2 PS = 37858.03 − 0.467 PS
PS = 15345.78 N
Substitute PS = 15345.78N in eq.1
PB = 2(15345.78 N )
PB = 30691.57 N
✓ Stress
PS PB
S = B =
AS AB
15345.78 N 30691.57 N
S = B =
400mm2 600mm2
S = 38.36MPa(T ) B = 51.15MPa(C )
G. References:
1. Strength of Materials 3rd Ed. by Ferdinand Singer and Andrew Pytel
2. Mechanics of Deformable Bodies 10th Ed. R.C. Hibbeler
3. Mechanics of Materials 7th Ed. Beer, Johnston, Mazurek, and De Wolf
