Calculate Thermal Expansion

https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/linear-expansion-coefficients-d_95.
html
Calculate thermal expansion

PRODUCT Linear Temp. Expansion Coefficient α
(10-6 m/(m °C))
(10-6 in/(in °F))
10.8 - 12.5
Steel 6 - 6.94
17.3
Steel Stainless Austenitic (304) 9.61
14.4
Steel Stainless Austenitic (310) 8
16.0
Steel Stainless Austenitic (316) 8.89
9.9
Steel Stainless Ferritic (410)
5.5
 10-6 m/moC = 1 μm/moC
 m/m = meter per meter, in/in = inches per inches
Most values for temperature 25 oC (77 oF). The span in the values may be caused by the
variation in the materials themselves - or by the variation in the sources used.
 tK = tC + 273.16

 tR = tF + 459.67
 1 in (inch) = 25.4 mm
 1 ft (foot) = 0.3048 m
Linear Thermal Expansion (engineeringtoolbox.com)
 Example - Linear Expansion

When an object is heated or cooled, its length changes by an amount proportional to the original
length and the change in temperature. The linear thermal expansion - the change in length - of
an object can be expressed as
dl = L0 α (t1 - t0) (1)
where
1
dl = change in object length (m, inches)
L0 = initial length of object (m, inches)
α = linear expansion coefficient (m/moC, in/inoF)
t0 = initial temperature (oC, oF)
t1 = final temperature (oC, oF)
The final length of the object can be calculated as
L1 = L0 + dl
= L0 + L0 α (t1 - t0) (2)
where
L1 = final length of object (m, inches)
Note! - linear expansion coefficients for most materials varies with temperature.
Example - Expansion of Copper, Carbon and Stainless Steel Pipes
For wider temperature ranges - calculate for smaller spans and integrate the results.
Online Thermal Linear Expansion Calculator

1
L0 - initial length of object (m, inches)
0.000016
α - linear expansion coefficient (m/moC, in/inoF)
0
t0 - initial temperature (oC, oF)
100
t1 - final temperature (oC, oF)
Reset!


Make Shortcut to this Calculator on Your Home Screen?
Linear Temperature Coefficients - α - for some common metals
 aluminum : 0.000023 (m/moC) (23 μm/moC)

 steel: 0.000012 (m/moC) (12 μm/moC)
 copper: 0.000017 (m/moC) (17 μm/moC)
 more coefficients ..
2
 more metals ..
Example - Expansion of an Aluminum Beam
An aluminum construction is designed for temperatures ranging -30oC to 50oC. If a beam's length

is 6 m when assembled at 20oC - the shortest final length of the beam at minimum temperature -
30oC can be calculated as
L1 = (6 m) + (6 m) (0.000023 m/moC) ((-30 oC) - (20 oC))
= 5.993 m
The longest final length of the beam at maximum temperature 50oC can be calculated as
L1 = (6 m) + (6 m) (0.000023 m/moC) ((50 oC) - (20 oC))
= 6.004 m
Superficial Expansion
The amount by which a unit area of a material increases when the temperature is raised by one
degree is called the coefficient of superficial (area) expansion.
Cubic Expansion
The amount by which a unit volume of a material increases when the temperature is raised by
one degree is called the coefficient of cubic expansion.
 Calculate Thermal Pipe Expansion

Pipes expands when heated and contracts when cooled and the
expansion can be expressed with the expansion formula
Sponsored Links
3
The temperature expansion of pipes depends on start and final temperature of the pipe, and the
expansion coefficient of the piping material at the actual temperature. The expansion formula
can be expressed as:
dl = α Lo dt (1)
where
dl = expansion (m, inches)
Lo = length of pipe (m, inches)
dt = temperature difference (oC, oF)
α = linear expansion coefficient (m/moK, in/inoF)

temperature expansion calculator
Note that the mean expansion coefficient may vary with temperature:
Mean Expansion Coefficient 10-6 (in/in oF, )
Temperature Range (oF)
Material
- 32 32 - 212 32 - 400 32 - 600 32 - 750 32 - 900 32 - 1100 32 - 1300
Alloy Steel
7.7 8.0 8.4 8.8 9.2 9.6 9.8
(1% Cr. 1/2% Mo)
Mild Steel
7.1 7.8 8.3 8.7 9.0 9.5 9.7
(0.1 - 0.2% C)
Stainless Steel
10.8 11.1 11.5 11.8 12.1 12.4 12.6 12.8
(18% Cr. 8% Ni)
Formula (1) can also be used with SI units. The expansion coefficient must be adjusted to oC.
 T(oC) = 5/9[T(oF) - 32]

 1 in (inch) = 25.4 mm
 1 ft (foot) = 0.3048 m
 Expansion coefficients for some common materials
 Thermal Expansion - Stress and Force

 Piping Materials and typical Temperature Expansion
Example - Thermal Expansion of an Alloy Steel Pipe
4
An alloy steel pipe with length 100 feet is heated from 32 to 212oF. The expansion coefficient
is 8 10-6 (in/inoF).
The expansion of the pipe can be calculated as:
dl = (8 10-6 in/inoF) (100 ft) (12 in/ft) ((212 oF) - (32 oF))
= 1.728 inches
 Temperature Expansion of Pipes - Excel Template
 Volumetric expansion coefficients of common fluids

Volumetric thermal expansion coefficients for some common liquids are indicated below.
1)
Volumetric expansion coefficient for water varies with temperature
 Example and Calculator - Volumetric Expansion
 Calculate volumetric thermal expansion

Calculate Thermal Expansion

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Calculate Thermal Expansion

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Calculate Thermal Expansion

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/linear-expansion-coefficients-d_95.

Calculate thermal expansion

 tK = tC + 273.16

Linear Thermal Expansion (engineeringtoolbox.com)

 Example - Linear Expansion

dl = L0 α (t1 - t0) (1)

L0 = initial length of object (m, inches)

α = linear expansion coefficient (m/moC, in/inoF)

t0 = initial temperature (oC, oF)

t1 = final temperature (oC, oF)

The final length of the object can be calculated as

= L0 + L0 α (t1 - t0) (2)

L1 = final length of object (m, inches)

Note! - linear expansion coefficients for most materials varies with temperature.

Example - Expansion of Copper, Carbon and Stainless Steel Pipes

Online Thermal Linear Expansion Calculator

 aluminum : 0.000023 (m/moC) (23 μm/moC)

An aluminum construction is designed for temperatures ranging -30oC to 50oC. If a beam's length

L1 = (6 m) + (6 m) (0.000023 m/moC) ((-30 oC) - (20 oC))

L1 = (6 m) + (6 m) (0.000023 m/moC) ((50 oC) - (20 oC))

 Calculate Thermal Pipe Expansion

dl = expansion (m, inches)

Lo = length of pipe (m, inches)

dt = temperature difference (oC, oF)

α = linear expansion coefficient (m/moK, in/inoF)

Mean Expansion Coefficient 10-6 (in/in oF, )

 T(oC) = 5/9[T(oF) - 32]

 Thermal Expansion - Stress and Force

The expansion of the pipe can be calculated as:

 Temperature Expansion of Pipes - Excel Template

 Volumetric expansion coefficients of common fluids

 Example and Calculator - Volumetric Expansion

 Calculate volumetric thermal expansion

You might also like