Formula Used:
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The Coefficient of Thermal Expansion refers to the material property that is indicative of the extent to which a material expands upon heating. It quantifies how much a material's dimensions change with temperature variations.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: This formula calculates the thermal expansion coefficient by dividing the stress by the product of temperature change and elastic modulus.
Details: Understanding thermal expansion properties is crucial for material selection in engineering applications, designing structures that experience temperature variations, and preventing thermal stress failures.
Tips: Enter stress in Pascal, change in temperature in Kelvin, and elastic modulus in Pascal. All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What is the significance of thermal expansion coefficient?
A: It helps engineers predict how materials will behave under temperature changes and design structures accordingly to avoid thermal stress and deformation.
Q2: How does temperature change affect material expansion?
A: Most materials expand when heated and contract when cooled. The rate of expansion is quantified by the thermal expansion coefficient.
Q3: What factors influence thermal expansion coefficient?
A: Material composition, crystal structure, temperature range, and material phase all influence the thermal expansion properties.
Q4: Why is elastic modulus included in this calculation?
A: Elastic modulus relates stress to strain, making it essential for calculating thermal expansion coefficient from stress-temperature relationships.
Q5: Are there different types of thermal expansion coefficients?
A: Yes, linear expansion coefficient (length change), area expansion coefficient (area change), and volumetric expansion coefficient (volume change).