How does thermal expansion effect the diameter of a hole?

In summary, thermal expansion can affect the diameter of a hole in sheet metal. The linear expansivity can be used to calculate the change in distance between two points, such as the diameter of the hole, due to a change in temperature. By using the diameter as a reference length, the effect of thermal expansion on the hole can be determined.
  • #1
TheNaturalStep
15
0
How does thermal expansion effect the diameter of a hole in a sheet metall,

When we r dealing with length it is quite easy since then it is only the propotion of change in lengt, and there r standard formulas for this ...

But how do you do for a hole in a sheet metal who are free to expand, let's say steel and the hole r 4 mm ...

Anyway you comments are dearly appriciated!
 
Science news on Phys.org
  • #2
TheNaturalStep said:
How does thermal expansion effect the diameter of a hole in a sheet metall,

When we r dealing with length it is quite easy since then it is only the propotion of change in lengt, and there r standard formulas for this ...

But how do you do for a hole in a sheet metal who are free to expand, let's say steel and the hole r 4 mm ...

Anyway you comments are dearly appriciated!
The linear expansivity relates the change in distance between two points to the change in temperature. Now, suppose you chose those two points such that the line joining them is the diameter of the hole. Can you now answer the question yourself.

P.S. Is this homework?
 
  • #3
Draw a circle on the iron with a pencil.
What happens to the circle?
 
  • #4
Thanks for your replies
no it isn't a homework

pam said:
Draw a circle on the iron with a pencil.
What happens to the circle?

it expands :), so what i do is to use the diameter as L cero.

Thank you :)
 

1. What is thermal expansion?

Thermal expansion is the tendency of a material to expand or contract in response to changes in temperature. This occurs because as temperature increases, the particles in a material gain kinetic energy and vibrate faster, causing them to take up more space.

2. How does thermal expansion affect the diameter of a hole?

When a material experiences thermal expansion, it will expand in all directions. This means that the diameter of a hole will also increase as the material around it expands. The amount of expansion will depend on the material's coefficient of thermal expansion, which is a measure of how much it expands per unit of temperature change.

3. Does thermal expansion always cause the diameter of a hole to increase?

No, not necessarily. In some cases, the material may have a negative coefficient of thermal expansion, meaning it will contract instead of expand at higher temperatures. This could cause the diameter of the hole to decrease.

4. How can thermal expansion be accounted for in engineering designs?

Engineers must consider the potential effects of thermal expansion when designing structures or machines. This can be done by selecting materials with low coefficients of thermal expansion, using joints or gaps that allow for expansion, or using compensation mechanisms such as bimetallic strips.

5. Is thermal expansion a concern in all types of materials?

Thermal expansion is a concern in all materials, although the degree of expansion may vary. Metals, for example, tend to have higher coefficients of thermal expansion than ceramics or polymers. However, even small changes in temperature can have significant effects on the dimensions of a material, making thermal expansion an important consideration in many applications.

Similar threads

Thermal Expansion of Two Holes
    • Thermodynamics
Replies
19
Views
5K
Can you explain this video? (An I-beam cut in half, springs apart, curved)
    • General Engineering
Replies
5
Views
377
Thermal expansion of an interference fit
    • Thermodynamics
Replies
1
Views
4K
I Black Hole Diameter: Is It Finite or Infinite?
    • Cosmology
2
Replies
36
Views
3K
Thermal expansion of aluminum disc
    • Thermodynamics
Replies
8
Views
10K
B What sound frequencies can pass through a hole in a wall?
    • Mechanics
Replies
31
Views
688
Thermal Expansion of piano wire
    • Thermodynamics
Replies
1
Views
2K
I The effect of temperature on the damping of a guitar string
    • Classical Physics
Replies
1
Views
688
Does the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion Apply to Both Expansion and Contraction?
    • STEM Educators and Teaching
Replies
19
Views
6K
Relation between thermal expansion and stress
    • Thermodynamics
Replies
5
Views
5K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top