Theory of Thermal Elasticity

Abstract

In the previous discussion of elastic deformations, the possibility of effects arising from temperature changes in the solid was completely ignored. From elementary physics, it is, however, known that changes in temperature in an unconstrained solid generally produce changes in its linear dimensions. These changes give rise, in turn, to corresponding strains and when such strains are prevented by boundary supports, the temperature changes must then induce stresses within the material. Since our earlier discussions did not deal with such strains or stresses, we were thus implicitly assuming the case of constant-temperature, or isothermal, deformations.