1. What is Thermal Stress?

Definition: Thermal stress is the stress induced in a material when it is subjected to temperature changes while being constrained from expanding or contracting freely.

Purpose: This calculator helps engineers and material scientists determine the stress caused by thermal expansion or contraction in materials.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( \sigma \) — Thermal stress (Pascals)
• \( E \) — Elastic modulus (Young's modulus) of the material (Pascals)
• \( \alpha \) — Coefficient of thermal expansion (1/Kelvin)
• \( \Delta T \) — Temperature change (Kelvin)

Explanation: The formula calculates the stress that develops when a material's natural thermal expansion or contraction is restricted.

3. Importance of Thermal Stress Calculation

Details: Understanding thermal stress is crucial for designing structures and components that experience temperature variations, preventing failure due to thermal expansion/contraction.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the material's elastic modulus, thermal expansion coefficient, and temperature change. All values must be valid numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are typical values for elastic modulus?
A: Steel ≈ 200 GPa, Aluminum ≈ 70 GPa, Concrete ≈ 30 GPa. Convert to Pa (1 GPa = 1×10⁹ Pa).

Q2: What are common thermal expansion coefficients?
A: Steel ≈ 12×10⁻⁶ 1/K, Aluminum ≈ 23×10⁻⁶ 1/K, Concrete ≈ 10-14×10⁻⁶ 1/K.

Q3: Can temperature change be negative?
A: Yes, negative ΔT indicates temperature decrease, which may cause contraction stress.

Q4: How does this relate to real-world applications?
A: Used in designing bridges (expansion joints), pipelines, electronic components, and any structure subject to temperature variations.

Q5: What if the material can expand freely?
A: If unconstrained, no thermal stress develops - the material simply expands or contracts.