Thermal Stress

The stress caused by internal forces created to resist thermal  deformations.

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. The internal stress created is termed as thermal stress.


General Procedure:
• Imagine the structure relieved of all applied loads and constraints so that temperature deformations can occur freely.
• Now imagine sufficient loads applied to the structures to restore it to the specified conditions of restraints.
• From FBD obtain an equation from static equilibrium and obtain an equation from the geometric relations between the temperature and load deformations.