CHAPTER 2

THERMAL STRESSES AND

COMPOSITE BARS

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this lecture, the student should

be able to;
1)Understand thermal stresses and composite

bars.
2)Understand series and parallel bars.
3)Solve problem regarding thermal stresses and
composite bars.

Composite Bars
The composite bar consists of 2 or more

different material and size which bonded

together (series or parallel)
When subjected to temperature and load, the
composite bar can extent or compress together.
Example:

Composite Bars Subjected to

Common Extension (without
temperature)
i) Series Bar

Bar 1

Bar 2

Concept of Load, P
P1 = P2 (Sum of external load distributed evenly to
all bars)
Concept of Extension/Compression, L
L = PL
L = L1 + L2
AE
(Sum of extension/compression of all
bars are added)

Law of Equilibrium
Forces
When all the forces that act upon an object

are balanced, then the object is said to be in a

state of equilibrium.
The forces are considered to be balanced if
the rightward forces are balanced by the
leftward forces and the upward forces are
balanced by the downward forces.
This however does not necessarily mean that
all the forces are equal to each other.

P
down

Right

=P

Left

up

=P

Example:
Consider the two objects pictured in the force

diagram shown below. Note that the two objects

are at equilibrium because the forces that act
upon them are balanced; however, the individual
forces are not equal to each other. The 50 N
force is not equal to the 30 N force.

Exercise 1

A rod AB is fixed to a wall with a supporter.

The area and length for bar A is 300mm 2 and

5m while bar B is 150 mm2 and 3m.
A
P3

P2

P1

5m
3m

i) By using the law of equilibrium force,

calculate the P2.

ii)Calculate the sum of extension in the bar.
(Given EA = 210 GPa, EB = 90 GPa)

ii) Parallel Bar

Bar
1

Bar
2

L = PL = L
AE
E

P = Load

Concept of Load, P
P = P1 + P2 (Sum of external load distributed to each
bars)
Concept of extension/compression, L
L1 = L2 (Sum of extension/compression are same)
@
P1L1
A1E1

= P2L2
A2E2

1L1
E1

2L2
E2

Exercise 2
An external load of 10KN were hang on two

wires made from brass and steel. The area of

brass is 150mm2 and steel is 80mm2 and
length for both wires is considered same.
Determine each load for both wires. Given E S=
200 GPa , EB = 100 GPa.

P = 10 KN

Composite Bars Subjected to

Temperature Changes
When a material is subjected to a change in

temperature its length will change by an amount:

L = LT
Where ;
L = amount of expansion/compression (m)

= linear coefficient of expansion (C-1 )

T = temperature changes (C)
L
= length (m)

Composite Bars Subjected to

Temperature Changes
Ordinary materials expand when heated and

contract when cooled, hence , an increase in

temperature produce a positive thermal strain.
Thermal Strain, = L/L = T
Thermal strains usually are reversible in a

sense that the material returns to its original

shape when the temperature return to its
original value. (movie)

However, if the bar were not constrained, so that it

can expand freely, there will be no thermal stress.

If, however, the bar were prevented from expanding
then there would be a compressive stress in the
bar.
Thermal stress, = E T

Constrained
bar

Assumed to
expand freely

Steel

Brass

Steel

Brass

Example: Parallel bar

Consider now a composite bar constructed
from two different materials rigidly joined
together .
Let us consider that the materials in this case
are steel and brass and both materials are
applied with temperature and stress.

In general, the coefficients of expansion of the

two materials forming the composite bar will

be different.
If the compound bar is subjected to a
temperature rise, each material will attempt
to expand by different amount.
Figure below shows the positions to which the
individual materials will expand if they are
completely free to expand (i.e not joined
rigidly together as a compound bar).

The extension of any Length, L is given by;

L = LT
The difference of free expansion lengths is

termed free length and equals to:

Free length = B LB T - S LS T
= (B - S ) L T
where B > S

The two materials are now rigidly joined as a

compound bar and subjected to the same

temperature rise, each material will attempt to
expand to its free length position but each will be
affected by the movement of the other.
The higher coefficient of expansion material
(brass) will therefore seek to pull the steel up to
its free length position and conversely, the lower
coefficient of expansion material (steel) will try to
hold the brass back to its free length position.
The result is an effective compression of the
brass from its free length position and an
effective extension of the steel from its free
length position.

 Therefore, from the diagrams, it may conclude as

follow;
Conclusion 1
Extension of steel + compression brass = difference in
free length

LS + LB (due to load) = (B - S ) L T (due to

temp.)

S LS / Es + B LB / EB = (B - S ) L T
Because L = LB = LS therefore,

S / Es + S / Es = (B - S )T

Conclusion 2
The tensile force applied to the short member by

the long member is equal in magnitude to the

compressive force applied to long member by the
short member.
Tensile force in steel = Compressive force in brass

S A S = B A B
These are two equations with two unknowns

which can be solved simultaneously to obtain

Steel and Brass

Comparison with Series and Parallel

Composite Bar
Subjected to Temperature Changes
i) Series Bar
L (due to load) = L (due to temp)

1 L1 / E1 + 2 L2 / E2 + . = 1L1T + 2L2T
+ .
ii) Parallel Bar
L (due to load) = L (due to temp)

S / Es + S / Es = (B - S )T