THERMAL STRESS
DOE-HDBK-1017/2-93
Thermal Shock
If the material is not constrained, it expands, and one or more of its dimensions increases. The
thermal expansion coefficient (a) relates the fractional change in length
, called thermal
Dl
l
strain, to the change in temperature per degree DT.
a
=
(3-1)
Dl
l
DT
=
aDT
(3-2)
Dl
l
where:
l
=
length (in.)
Dl
=
change in length (in.)
a
=
linear thermal expansion coefficient (°F-1)
DT
=
change in temperature (°F)
Table 1 lists the coefficients of linear thermal expansion for several commonly-encountered
materials.
TABLE 1
Coefficients of Linear Thermal Expansion
Material
Coefficients of Linear Thermal Expansion (°F-1 )
Carbon Steel
5.8 x 10-6
Stainless Steel
9.6 x 10-6
Aluminum
13.3 x 10-6
Copper
9.3 x 10-6
Lead
16.3 x 10-6
MS-03
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