Steel railroad reels 10 m long are laid with a clearance of 3 mm at a temperature of 15°C.

At
what temperature will the rails just touch? What stress would be induced in the rails at that
temperature if there were no initial clearance? Assume α = 11.7 µm/(m·°C) and E = 200 GPa.

Solution 263

Temperature at which δT = 3 mm:

δT=αL(ΔT)δT=αL(ΔT)
δT=αL(Tf−Ti)δT=αL(Tf−Ti)
3=(11.7×10−6)(10000)(Tf−15)3=(11.7×10−6)(10000)(Tf−15)
Tf=40.64∘CTf=40.64∘C answer

Required stress:
δ=δTδ=δT
σLE=αL(ΔT)σLE=αL(ΔT)
σ=αE(Tf−Ti)σ=αE(Tf−Ti)
σ=(11.7×10−6)(200000)(40.64−15)σ=(11.7×10−6)(200000)(40.64−15)
σ=60 MPaσ=60 Mpa answer
A steel rod with a cross-sectional area of 0.25 in2 is stretched between two fixed points. The
tensile load at 70°F is 1200 lb. What will be the stress at 0°F? At what temperature will the
stress be zero? Assume α = 6.5 × 10-6 in/(in·°F) and E = 29 × 106 psi.

Solution 261
For the stress at 0°F:

δ=δT+δstδ=δT+δst
σLE=αL(ΔT)+PLAEσLE=αL(ΔT)+PLAE
σ=αE(ΔT)+PAσ=αE(ΔT)+PA
σ=(6.5×10−6)(29×106)(70)+12000.25σ=(6.5×10−6)(29×106)(70)+12000.25
σ=17995psi=18 ksiσ=17995psi=18 ksi answer

For the temperature that causes zero stress:

δT=δstδT=δst
αL(ΔT)=PLAEαL(ΔT)=PLAE
α(ΔT)=PAEα(ΔT)=PAE
(6.5×10−6)(T−70)=12000.25(29×106)(6.5×10−6)(T−70)=12000.25(29×106)
T=95.46∘FT=95.46∘F answer
A steel rod is stretched between two rigid walls and carries a tensile load of 5000 N at 20°C. If
the allowable stress is not to exceed 130 MPa at -20°C, what is the minimum diameter of the
rod? Assume α = 11.7 µm/(m·°C) and E = 200 GPa.

Solution 262

δ=δT+δstδ=δT+δst
σLE=αL(ΔT)+PLAEσLE=αL(ΔT)+PLAE
σ=αE(ΔT)+PAσ=αE(ΔT)+PA
130=(11.7×10−6)(200000)(40)+5000A130=(11.7×10−6)(200000)(40)+5000A
A=500036.4=137.36 mm2A=500036.4=137.36 mm2

14πd2=137.3614πd2=137.36
d=13.22 mmd=13.22 mm answer
A steel rod 3 feet long with a cross-sectional area of 0.25 in.2 is stretched between two fixed
points. The tensile force is 1200 lb at 40°F. Using E = 29 × 106 psi and α = 6.5 × 10-6 in./
(in.·°F), calculate (a) the temperature at which the stress in the bar will be 10 ksi; and (b) the
temperature at which the stress will be zero.

Solution 264
(a) Without temperature change:
σ=PA=12000.25=4800 psi σ=PA=12000.25=4800 psi
σ=4.8ksi<10ksiσ=4.8ksi<10ksi
A drop of temperature is needed to increase the stress to 10 ksi. See figure below.

δ=δT+δstδ=δT+δst
σLE=αL(ΔT)+PLAEσLE=αL(ΔT)+PLAE
σ=αE(ΔT)+PAσ=αE(ΔT)+PA
10000=(6.5×10−6)(29×106)(ΔT)+12000.2510000=(6.5×10−6)(29×106)(ΔT)+12000.25
ΔT=27.59∘FΔT=27.59∘F

Required temperature: (temperature must drop from 40°F)

T=40−27.59=12.41∘FT=40−27.59=12.41∘F answer

(b) Temperature at which the stress will be zero:

From the figure below:

δ=δTδ=δT
PLAE=αL(ΔT)PLAE=αL(ΔT)
P=αAE(Tf−Ti)P=αAE(Tf−Ti)
1200=(6.5×10−6)(0.25)(29×106)(Tf−40)1200=(6.5×10−6)(0.25)(29×106)(Tf−40)
Tf=65.46∘FTf=65.46∘F answer
A bronze bar 3 m long with a cross sectional area of 320 mm2 is placed between two rigid
walls as shown in Fig. P-265. At a temperature of -20°C, the gap Δ = 2.5 mm. Find the
temperature at which the compressive stress in the bar will be 35 MPa. Use α = 18.0 × 10-6 m/
(m·°C) and E = 80 GPa.

Solution 265
δT=δ+ΔδT=δ+Δ

αL(ΔT)=σLE+2.5αL(ΔT)=σLE+2.5
(18×10−6)(3000)(ΔT)=35(3000)80000+2.5(18×10−6)(3000)(ΔT)=35(3000)80000+2.5
ΔT=70.6∘CΔT=70.6∘C
T=70.6−20T=70.6−20
T=50.6∘CT=50.6∘C answer