Chapter 6

Thermoelastic problems in 1D solids

Let us now consider the thermo-elastic problem in a 1D solid, like the one depicted in figure, a
bar subjected to a load per unit length p (x, t) and to a temperature variation T (x, t) with respect
the ambient temperature. A fixed end is assumed at the left and x=0, with no lack of generality,
since only rigid body motions are suppressed due to it.

p(x,t)

T(x,t)

O l x
Figure 6.1: The thermoelastic problem in a 1D solid.

The body has section A(x), density per unit length ρ(x) and is thermally isolated in any directions
normal to x and is supposed to have a linear thermoelastic behavior with an elastic modulus E(x)
and an the thermoelastic response of their body expansion coefficient α(x) can be studied by
assuming as state variables the displacement function u(x,t), assumed to be continuous along x,
the axial strain 𝜀 𝑥, 𝑡 and the normal force N(x,t).
The governing equations of the problem can be set up as follows:

•   strain/displacement relation
∂u ( x, t )
ε ( x, t ) = (6.1)
∂x
•   equilibrium equation
∂N ( x, t )
= − p ( x, t ) (6.2)
∂x
obtained by setting the translation equation along x
 ∂N ( x, t )
dx + p ( x, t )dx = 0 (6.3)
∂x
)* +
where 𝑝 𝑥, 𝑡 = 𝑝 𝑥, 𝑡 − 𝜌 including the inertial term constitutive equation (linear
), *
thermoelasticity)
𝑁 𝑥, 𝑡 = 𝐸 𝑥 𝐴 𝑥 𝜀 𝑥 − 𝛼 𝑥 𝑇 𝑥, 𝑡 (6.4)
where ε ( x, t ) = α ( x)T ( x, t ) can be defined as thermal strain and the difference
T

ε ( x, t ) − ε T ( x, t ) = ε M ( x, t ) as mechanical strain. Considering the boundary conditions we can

either apply the imposed displacement, the imposed force or a combination of the two:
u (0, t ) = uo (t )
u (l , t ) = ul (t )
N (0, t ) = N o (t ) (6.5)
N (l , t ) = N l (t )

In the case an elastic spring of stiffness K or a pointwise translational mass M is applied to one
of the ends, say the left one at x=l, we will have

K M

ul ul
-Kul ∂ 2u
−M
∂t 2
Figure 6.2: Different boundary conditions at one end of the structure.

∂ 2u
N (l , t ) = − Kul or N (l , t ) = −M 2 (6.6)
∂t
as to the initial condition
𝑢 𝑥, 0 = 𝑢4 𝑥 (6.7)
The resulting governing equation can be obtained by substituting in the equilibrium equation the
remaining two, thus obtaining, expressed in the primitive state variable u(x,t), the following
expression

∂ ⎡ ∂u( x, t ) ⎤ ∂ 2u( x, t )
{E ( x) A( x) ⎢ − α ( x)T ( x, t ) ⎥} = − p( x, t ) + ρ (6.8)
∂x ⎣ ∂x ⎦ ∂t 2
with, as boundary condition on x=0

u(0, t ) = u0 (t ) or E (0){∂u( x, t )∂x ∣0 −α (0)T (0, t )}A(0) = N 0 (6.9)

and as boundary condition on x=l

u(l , t ) = ul (t ) or E (l ){∂u( x, t )∂x ∣l −α (l )T (l , t )}A(l ) = Nl (6.10)

or other combination of the primitive and its first derivative as in the case corresponding to the
spring or the point mass. The governing equations described above (field equation and limit
condition) have a linear nature.
In the static case the equation reads as follows

∂ ⎡ ∂u ( x) ⎤
{E ( x) A( x) ⎢ − α ( x)T ( x) ⎥} = − p( x) (6.11)
∂x ⎣ ∂x ⎦
if the body has a homogeneous nature both for the elasticity and for the thermal expansion
phenomena we can further simplify the expression:

𝜕 𝜕𝑢 𝑥
𝐸 𝐴 𝑥 − 𝐴 𝑥 𝛼𝑇 𝑥 = −𝑝 𝑥 (6.12)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥

with the boundary conditions

𝜕𝑢 𝑥
𝑢 0 = 𝑢6      or      𝐸𝐴 0 − 𝛼𝑇 0 = 𝑁6
𝜕𝑥 6
(6.13)
𝜕𝑢 𝑥
𝑢 𝑙 = 𝑢;      or      𝐸𝐴 𝑙 − 𝛼𝑇 𝑙 = 𝑁;
𝜕𝑥 ;

Note that T (x) appears under a first order derivation in the field equation.
The governing equation is in this case an ordinary second order differential equation that, if
A(x)=const, is also characterized by constant coefficients. Let us now try to find the solution in
simple cases for which p(x) is assumed to be zero. If also A(x)=const, the field equation reads
EAu′′( x) − EAαT ′( x) = 0 (6.14)
with
𝐴 𝑥 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡            𝑢 0 = 0
(6.15)
𝑇 𝑥 = 𝑇            𝑁 𝑙 = 0
) )*
In this case the equations read, with     @ =        and         @@
=    
)A )A *

EAu′′( x) = 0
(6.16)
u (0) = 0
(6.17)
N (l ) = EA ( ul′ − α T ) = 0
(6.18)
The solution has the form u(x)=A+Bx with A and B obtained by imposing the boundary
conditions.
6.1 Examples

Example n.1

u (0) = 0
N (l ) = 0
T ( x) = T
 
p( x) = 0

𝑢 0 = 0       ⟹    A = 0

𝑢@ 𝑙 − 𝛼𝑇 = 0       ⟹    𝐵 − 𝛼𝑇 = 0       ⟹    𝐵 = 𝛼𝑇

𝑢 𝑥 = 𝛼𝑇𝑥

𝜀 𝑥 = 𝛼𝑇

𝑁 𝑥 = 𝐸𝐴 𝛼𝑇 − 𝛼𝑇 = 0
Example n.2

x
l
T(x)
T
O
x
ε (x)
T

αT
O
x
u(x)

O
x
ε(x)

O
x
N(x)

O
x
− EAα T

u (0) = 0
u (l ) = 0
T ( x) = T
 
p( x) = 0

𝑢 x = A + Bx
𝑢@ x = B
𝑢 0 = 0       ⟹    A = 0
𝑢 𝑙 = 0       ⟹    𝐵𝑙 = 0       ⟹    𝐵 = 0
𝑢 𝑥 =0
𝜀 𝑥 =0

𝑁 𝑥 = 𝐸𝐴 −𝛼𝑇 = −𝐸𝐴𝛼𝑇
Example n.3

 
u (0) = 0
N (l ) = 0
T ( x ) = ax
p ( x) = 0
 

𝐸𝐴𝑢@@ x = EAαT @ 𝑥 = EAα𝑎       ⟹     𝑢@@ x = α𝑎 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡  

𝑢@@ = constant       ⟹     𝑢@ = linear       ⟹    𝑢 = quadratic  
𝑢 x = A + Bx + Cx X  
𝑢@ x = B + 2Cx  
1
 𝑢@@ x = 2C       ⟹    C = α𝑎  
2
1
𝑢 0 = 0       ⟹    A + B0 + α𝑎0X = 0       ⟹    𝐴 = 0
2
𝑢@ x = B + α𝑎𝑥
𝑁 𝑥 = 𝐸𝐴 𝑢@ x − 𝛼𝑇 𝑥
 𝑁 𝑙 = 0       ⟹    𝐸𝐴 𝑢@ 𝑙 − 𝛼𝑎𝑙 = 0       ⟹
⟹    𝐸𝐴 𝐵 + 𝛼𝑎𝑙 − 𝛼𝑎𝑙 = 0 ⟹    𝐵 = 0
1
𝑢 𝑥 = α𝑎𝑥 X
2
𝜀 𝑥 = α𝑎𝑥
𝑁 𝑥 = 𝐸𝐴 α𝑎𝑥 − α𝑎𝑥 = 0
 
Example n.4

u (0) = 0
u (l ) = 0
T ( x ) = ax
p ( x) = 0
 

𝐸𝐴𝑢@@ x = 𝐸𝐴αT @ 𝑥 = 𝐸𝐴α𝑎       ⟹     𝑢@@ x = α𝑎 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡  

𝑢@@ = constant       ⟹     𝑢@ = linear       ⟹    𝑢 = quadratic  
𝑢 x = 𝐴 + 𝐵𝑥 + 𝐶𝑥 X  
𝑢@ x = 𝐵 + 2𝐶𝑥  
1
 𝑢@@ x = 2𝐶       ⟹    C = α𝑎  
2
1
𝑢 0 = 0       ⟹    𝐴 + 𝐵0 + α𝑎0X = 0       ⟹    𝐴 = 0
2
 1 1
𝑢 l = 0       ⟹    𝐵𝑙 + α𝑎𝑙 X = 0       ⟹    𝐵 = − α𝑎𝑙
2 2
1 1
𝑢 𝑥 = − α𝑎𝑙𝑥 + α𝑎𝑥 X
2 2
1 𝑙
𝜀 𝑥 = 𝑢@ 𝑥 = − α𝑎𝑙 + α𝑎𝑥                      𝑢@ =0
2 2
1 1
𝑁 𝑥 = 𝐸𝐴 − α𝑎𝑙 + α𝑎𝑥 − α𝑎𝑥 = − 𝐸𝐴α𝑎𝑙
2 2

\]
The expression for T(x) can also be written as 𝑇 𝑥 = 𝑥
;
Example n.5

u (0) = 0
u (l ) = 0
Tb − Ta
T ( x) = Ta + x
l
p( x) = 0

This case can be solved by superimposition of effects by superimposing the solution for

T1 ( x ) = Ta
and the one for
Tb − Ta
T2 ( x) = x
l
obtained for the example 2 and 4 respectively, as follows

u ( x ) = u1 ( x ) + u2 ( x )
that is
𝑢^ 𝑥 = 0
𝜀^ 𝑥 = 0
𝑁^ 𝑥 = −𝐸𝐴𝛼𝑇_
 1 𝑇` − 𝑇_ 1 𝑇` − 𝑇_ X
𝑢X 𝑥 = − α 𝑙𝑥 + α 𝑥
2 𝑙 2 𝑙
1 𝑇` − 𝑇_ 𝑇` − 𝑇_
𝜀X 𝑥 = − α 𝑙+α 𝑥
2 𝑙 𝑙
1 𝑇` − 𝑇_
𝑁X 𝑥 = − 𝐸𝐴α 𝑙
2 𝑙
In conclusion
1 𝑇` − 𝑇_ 1 𝑇` − 𝑇_ X
𝑢 𝑥 =− α 𝑙𝑥 + α 𝑥
2 𝑙 2 𝑙
1 𝑇` − 𝑇_ 𝑇` − 𝑇_
𝜀 𝑥 =− α 𝑙+α 𝑥
2 𝑙 𝑙
1
𝑁 𝑥 = − 𝐸𝐴α 𝑇_ + 𝑇`
2
Example n.6

u (0) = 0
N (l ) = −kul
T ( x) = T
p( x) = 0
 

𝑢 x = 𝐴 + 𝐵𝑥  
𝑢@ x = 𝐵  
𝑢 0 = 0       ⟹    𝐴 = 0
𝑢 l = 𝐵𝑙

𝑁 𝑙 = −𝑘𝑢 𝑙         ⟹      𝐸𝐴 𝑢@ 𝑙 − 𝛼𝑇 = −𝑘𝑢 𝑙

from which we obtain

^
𝐸𝐴 𝐵 − 𝛼𝑇 = −𝑘𝐵𝑙        ⟹      𝐵 = cd 𝛼𝑇
^b
ef
 1
𝑢 𝑥 = 𝛼𝑇𝑥
𝑘𝑙
1+
𝐸𝐴
1
𝜀 𝑥 = 𝛼𝑇
𝑘𝑙
1+
𝐸𝐴

1
𝑁 𝑥 = 𝛼𝑇 − 𝛼𝑇 𝐸𝐴
𝑘𝑙
1+
𝐸𝐴
that for k → 0 will be equal to N(x)=0

while for k → ∞ will be equal to N ( x) = −αTEA

The stiffness k may represent the stiffness of another bar of different characteristics, measured at
its end, as in the following picture. In this case the bar a has a variation in temperature 𝑇      whereas
b remains undisturbed from the thermal viewpoint.

T =0
T ≠0

x
la lb
Example n.7

x
l
𝑇 𝑥 =𝑇

In the presence of a small gap e the boundary conditions change from N (l) = 0 to u(l+e) after
the displacement has reached the value e. It is a nonlinear case for which, in case e is small as
compared to l one way just change the boundary condition and add the solution obtained for
displacement and strain to the one with fixed right end.