SEDL / STP / STP612-EB / STP27882S

Thermal Stress Concentration Factors in Large Shafts

Gonyea, DC
Development engineer, General Electric Company, Schenectady, C.Y.

Pages: 8    Published: Jan 1976

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Abstract

The concentration of thermal stress in a shaft subjected to a ramp surface temperature change has been investigated. The concentration occurs at a step change in shaft diameter, and the temperature and stress responses are calculated by the finite element method. A thermal stress concentration factor (TSCF) is defined, and an analytical expression is given which defines the concentration factor in terms of the geometric parameters. Over the range of transient conditions studied, it is observed that the TSCF is insensitive to the surface temperature ramp rate. A comparison illustrates that the TSCF can be significantly different in numerical value than mechanical stress concentration factors.