Thermal Stress Calculator (Restrained Bar)
Stress when expansion is prevented — the hidden force in rigid assemblies.
Fully restrained steel hits 2.4 MPa per °C — a 50 °C swing builds 120 MPa, half of yield, from temperature alone. Length cancels out: short or long, the stress is identical.
Formula
Thermal Stress Calculator (Restrained Bar) is a free thermal stress for design engineers, metallurgists and QA inspectors — instant, accurate and 100% client-side, with the governing formula and reference shown next to the result so the number can be defended, not just quoted.
About Thermal Stress Calculator (Restrained Bar)
Stress when expansion is prevented — the hidden force in rigid assemblies. The calculation implements σ = E·α·ΔT (full restraint) (Thermoelasticity — strength of materials). Fully restrained steel hits 2.4 MPa per °C — a 50 °C swing builds 120 MPa, half of yield, from temperature alone. Length cancels out: short or long, the stress is identical.
How to use Thermal Stress Calculator (Restrained Bar)
- 1Enter Elastic modulus E in GPa.
- 2Enter CTE α in µm/m·K.
- 3Enter Temperature change in °C.
- 4Enter Cross-section (for force) in mm².
- 5Read Thermal stress, Restraint force instantly — no submit button needed.
- 6Need US units? Flip the SI/Imperial toggle and every field converts.
Why use Thermal Stress Calculator (Restrained Bar)?
- ✓Implements the standard formula — σ = E·α·ΔT (full restraint)
- ✓Reference cited on-page: Thermoelasticity — strength of materials
- ✓One-click SI ⇄ Imperial toggle — values convert in place, physics stays in SI
- ✓Live worked example: the substitution recomputes from your numbers
- ✓Runs entirely in your browser — nothing uploaded, free forever
Frequently asked questions
What formula does the Thermal Stress Calculator (Restrained Bar) use?+
It computes σ = E·α·ΔT (full restraint), per Thermoelasticity — strength of materials. The formula is displayed under the result along with a worked example substituted with your own inputs.
What should I keep in mind when using this calculator?+
Fully restrained steel hits 2.4 MPa per °C — a 50 °C swing builds 120 MPa, half of yield, from temperature alone. Length cancels out: short or long, the stress is identical.
Where do the material property defaults come from?+
Defaults are standard handbook values (ASM, manufacturer datasheets, the cited standard). Always substitute certified values from your material's test certificate for critical work.
Is the Thermal Stress Calculator (Restrained Bar) free to use?+
Yes — completely free, no sign-up, no limits. It runs client-side in your browser, so inputs stay private and results are instant even on slow connections.
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