Thermal Stress and Expansion.
I. If a rod is fixed between two rigid supports and heated, compressive thermal stress develops.
II. Thermal stress depends on the coefficient of linear expansion (α) of the material.
III. Thermal stress is independent of the length of the rod.
IV. Thermal stress is given by σ = YαΔT.
V. If the supports yield (move apart), the thermal stress will be less than the theoretical maximum.
