Change in length due to temperature

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the thermal expansion and contraction of steel and aluminum rods, specifically how temperature changes affect their lengths. Participants debate whether the observable change in the steel rod's length is represented by δA or δT(st), with δA being the observed contraction and δT(st) representing the contraction that would occur without constraints from the aluminum rod. The equations governing the stress and strain in the steel rod are analyzed, highlighting that the steel experiences tension due to constraints imposed by the aluminum rod, despite its temperature-induced contraction. The conversation also touches on the relationship between the two rods, emphasizing that the expansion of the aluminum rod affects the contraction of the steel rod. Overall, the key takeaway is that the observed changes in length are influenced by both thermal effects and the constraints from the aluminum rod.
  • #101
Chestermiller said:
Well, you tell me. What is the direction of the force that the rod applies to the lever at point A? What is the direction of the force that the lever applies to the rod at point A?
Upwards?
If it's upwards the change in length that we can see with naked eyes is del (st) + del (a), rather than del (a) only, right?
 
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  • #102
chetzread said:
Upwards?
If it's upwards the change in length that we can see with naked eyes is del (st) + del (a), rather than del (a) only, right?
I asked you two separate questions. What are your answers to each of these questions?
 
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  • #103
Chestermiller said:
Well, you tell me. What is the direction of the force that the rod applies to the lever at point A? What is the direction of the force that the lever applies to the rod at point A?
The force that the rod applies to lever is upwards, the force that lever applies to rod at A is downwards?
 
  • #104
chetzread said:
The force that the rod applies to lever is upwards, the force that lever applies to rod at A is downwards?
It sounds like you're not sure. Please let me know when you are sure.
 
  • #105
Chestermiller said:
It sounds like you're not sure. Please let me know when you are sure.
Huh? If the forces opposite to each other, they will cancel each other, right? If so, the force P(st) wouldn't exist, right?
 
  • #106
chetzread said:
Huh? If the forces opposite to each other, they will cancel each other, right? If so, the force P(st) wouldn't exist, right?
Are you familiar with Newton's 3rd law and the concept of action-reaction pairs?
 
  • #107
Chestermiller said:
δst is defined as the displacement that you see.
As I read it, ##\delta_A## is the observed displacement. ##\delta_{st}## is the difference between that and the displacement that would have occurred if not attachd to the crossbeam.
 
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  • #108
haruspex said:
As I read it, ##\delta_A## is the observed displacement. ##\delta_{st}## is the difference between that and the displacement that would have occurred if not attachd to the crossbeam.
Oops. It's been along time since this thread was active. I guess I forgot. Sorry about that.
 
  • #109
haruspex said:
δst
What causes ∂st ?
It's the force Pst , right ?
 
  • #110
chetzread said:
What causes ∂st ?
It's the force Pst , right ?
Yes.
 
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  • #111
haruspex said:
Yes.
so , the Pst point downwards at the point A , causing the steel rod can't contract by del (Tst) , but only contract by del (A) ?
 
  • #112
chetzread said:
so , the Pst point downwards at the point A , causing the steel rod can't contract by del (Tst) , but only contract by del (A) ?
Yes.
 
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  • #113
haruspex said:
Yes.
sorry , i made a typo in my previous post ...
Just to verify my concept , do you mean the Pst cause the rigid bar ABC to move downwrads at A , so the contraction that we could observe is ∂A ( ∂(Tst) - ∂st = ∂A ) ?
This is due the original contraction with no aluminium rod constraint is ∂(Tst) ( cause end of bar ABC to go up at A ) , but the Pst cause the steel rod to move downwards at A , so the contraction that we could observe is ∂A ( ∂(Tst) - ∂st = ∂A ) only ?
 
  • #114
haruspex said:
Yes.
can you verify my concept ?
 
  • #115
chetzread said:
sorry , i made a typo in my previous post ...
Just to verify my concept , do you mean the Pst cause the rigid bar ABC to move downwrads at A , so the contraction that we could observe is ∂A ( ∂(Tst) - ∂st = ∂A ) ?
This is due the original contraction with no aluminium rod constraint is ∂(Tst) ( cause end of bar ABC to go up at A ) , but the Pst cause the steel rod to move downwards at A , so the contraction that we could observe is ∂A ( ∂(Tst) - ∂st = ∂A ) only ?
I find this a bit hard to answer because I cannot read the subscripts on the two P forces shown in the diagram at post #1. I assume Pst is the left hand one, and represents (in the diagram) the force exerted at the top of the steel rod by a restraint. Correspondingly, the bar at the bottom will exert an equal and opposite force. So yes, that downward force on the steel rod at A is what will reduce the contraction from ∂(Tst) to ∂A. But it is not quite right to say that Pst causes this. It is the pair of equal and opposite forces putting the rod under tension that causes it.
 
  • #116
haruspex said:
But it is not quite right to say that Pst causes this. It is the pair of equal and opposite forces putting the rod under tension that causes it.
if so , then the downward and upwards direction forec will cancel out each other , right ? How to reduce the contraction from ∂(Tst) to ∂A ?
 
  • #117
haruspex said:
I find this a bit hard to answer because I cannot read the subscripts on the two P forces shown in the diagram at post #1. I assume Pst is the left hand one, and represents (in the diagram) the force exerted at the top of the steel rod by a restraint. Correspondingly, the bar at the bottom will exert an equal and opposite force. So yes, that downward force on the steel rod at A is what will reduce the contraction from ∂(Tst) to ∂A. But it is not quite right to say that Pst causes this. It is the pair of equal and opposite forces putting the rod under tension that causes it.
Pst is actually caused by the aluminium rod ?
 
  • #118
chetzread said:
if so , then the downward and upwards direction forec will cancel out each other , right ? How to reduce the contraction from ∂(Tst) to ∂A ?
They cancel out in the sense that there is no net force on the rod (otherwise, the rod would accelerate) but the combination produces a tension in the rod, thereby stretching it.
chetzread said:
Pst is actually caused by the aluminium rod
That is the ultimate cause, but the connection to the bar at one end and to some restraint at the other end is the proximate cause.
 
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  • #119
Chestermiller said:
Step 2. Apply a stress σσ\sigma to the rod to arrive at the final constrained length
do u mean apply it to the opposite direction of the ϵ1=αΔT ?
 
  • #120
chetzread said:
do u mean apply it to the opposite direction of the ϵ1=αΔT ?
Yes
 
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  • #121
Chestermiller said:
Yes
Chestermiller said:
If we have a rod to which we apply a temperature change while at the same time partially constraining it, we can model this as a two step process.

Step 1. Apply the temperature change to the rod without constraining it
Step 2. Apply a stress ##\sigma## to the rod to arrive at the final constrained length

Let ##\epsilon_1## represent the strain of the rod in Step 1 and let ##\epsilon_2## represent the strain in Step 2. Then:
$$\epsilon_1=\alpha \Delta T$$
$$\epsilon_2=\frac{\sigma}{E}$$
The total strain for the combined process is the sum of the strains for each of the two steps:
$$\epsilon=\epsilon_1+\epsilon_2=\alpha \Delta T+\frac{\sigma}{E}$$
What do you get if you solve this equation for ##\sigma## as a function of ##\alpha \Delta T## and ##\epsilon##?
if it's opposite , it will become $$\epsilon=\epsilon_1+\epsilon_2=\alpha \Delta T-\frac{\sigma}{E}$$ , right ?
then it wil become
σs=Es(-ϵs+αsΔT) ?

is it correct ?
 
  • #122
chetzread said:
if it's opposite , it will become $$\epsilon=\epsilon_1+\epsilon_2=\alpha \Delta T-\frac{\sigma}{E}$$ , right ?
then it wil become
σs=Es(-ϵs+αsΔT) ?

is it correct ?
NO. Do the algebra. The first term on the right hand side of my equation is the strain resulting from thermal expansion. The second term is the result of added tensile stress. These add up to the total strain.
 
  • #123
Chestermiller said:
NO. Do the algebra. The first term on the right hand side of my equation is the strain resulting from thermal expansion. The second term is the result of added tensile stress. These add up to the total strain.
but , you agreed that in $$\epsilon=\epsilon_1+\epsilon_2=\alpha \Delta T+\frac{\sigma}{E}$$
the σ is applied to the opposite of αT ?
so, $$\epsilon=\epsilon_1+\epsilon_2=\alpha \Delta T-\frac{\sigma}{E}$$

so , σs=Es(-ϵs+αsΔT) ?
 
  • #124
chetzread said:
but , you agreed that in $$\epsilon=\epsilon_1+\epsilon_2=\alpha \Delta T+\frac{\sigma}{E}$$
the σ is applied to the opposite of αT ?
so, $$\epsilon=\epsilon_1+\epsilon_2=\alpha \Delta T-\frac{\sigma}{E}$$

so , σs=Es(-ϵs+αsΔT) ?
That has nothing to do with the algebra. Everything automatically comes out to be the right sign if you let the math do the work for you. If you are not happy with what the algebra predicts, do it your own way, but you will get the wrong answer.
 
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  • #125
Chestermiller said:
That has nothing to do with the algebra. Everything automatically comes out to be the right sign if you let the math do the work for you. If you are not happy with what the algebra predicts, do it your own way, but you will get the wrong answer.
if the σ is applied in opposite direction , then the strain should be in negative value , right ? so , total strain =
ϵ=ϵ1+ϵ2=αΔT-σE
Why am i wrong ?
 
  • #126
chetzread said:
if the σ is applied in opposite direction , then the strain should be in negative value , right ? so , total strain =
ϵ=ϵ1+ϵ2=αΔT-σE
Why am i wrong ?
What we are dealing with here is a mathematics issue, NOT A PHYSICS ISSUE.

Suppose you have a general equation $$A+B=C$$where A, B, and C are real numbers, both positive and negative. Suppose you have n combinations of numbers ##((A_i,B_i,C_i),i=1,...,n)## all of which satisfy the general equation. Suppose I told you that, for one specific combination (i = j), ##B_j## has the opposite sign of ##A_j## (for example (-7.5, +4.85, -2.65). According to your rationale, for a combination like this, the general equation should be changed to $$A-B=C$$ Would any of the combinations now satisfy this new equation?
 
  • #127
Chestermiller said:
What we are dealing with here is a mathematics issue, NOT A PHYSICS ISSUE.

Suppose you have a general equation $$A+B=C$$where A, B, and C are real
numbers, both positive and negative. Suppose you have n combinations of numbers ##((A_i,B_i,C_i),i=1,...,n)## all of which satisfy the general equation. Suppose
I told you that, for one specific combination (i = j), ##B_j## has the opposite sign of ##A_j## (for example (-7.5, +4.85, -2.65). According to your rationale, for a
combination like this, the general equation
should be changed to $$A-B=C$$ Would any of the combinations now satisfy this new equation?

No, still A + B = C... but, in the case that we discussed so far, we have to take the sign into consideration, rite? That is
ϵ=ϵ1+ϵ2=αΔT-σE , right ?
 
  • #128
chetzread said:
No, still A + B = C... but, in the case that we discussed so far, we have to take the sign into consideration, rite? That is
ϵ=ϵ1+ϵ2=αΔT-σE , right ?
It's exactly the same situation. The general equation (not just for this problem) is $$\epsilon=\alpha \Delta T+\frac{\sigma}{E}$$ If doesn't matter whether ##\Delta T## is positive or negative and it doesn't mater whether ##\sigma## is positive or negative.
 
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  • #129
Chestermiller said:
It's exactly the same situation. The general equation (not just for this problem) is $$\epsilon=\alpha \Delta T+\frac{\sigma}{E}$$ If doesn't matter whether ##\Delta T## is positive or negative and it doesn't mater whether ##\sigma## is
positive or negative.
OK, since we already know that the σ/ E is applied in opposite to αLT, so, the σ/ E should has negative sign, thus ϵ=ϵ1+ϵ2=αΔT-σE , right ?
 
  • #130
chetzread said:
OK, since we already know that the σ/ E is applied in opposite to αLT, so, the σ/ E should has negative sign, thus ϵ=ϵ1+ϵ2=αΔT-σE , right ?
No. You're doing the same thing again. You need to go back and review algebra.
 
  • #131
chetzread said:
OK, since we already know that the σ/ E is applied in opposite to αLT, so, the σ/ E should has negative sign, thus ϵ=ϵ1+ϵ2=αΔT-σE , right ?
What would this equation predict for the relationship between stress and strain if ##\Delta T## were zero?

Here is a math problem for you to using with the so-called "SUVAT" equation: $$v_x=v_{x0}+at$$
Suppose I have a body moving with an initial velocity at time t=0 of ##v_{x0}=-10## m/s (i.e., the initial velocity is in the negative x direction). At time t = 0, I apply a constant force to the body to give it an acceleration "a" in the positive x direction (i.e., opposite to the direction of the initial velocity). What acceleration value do I have to apply so that, at t = 4 seconds, the velocity of the body is ##v_x=-2## m/s?
 
  • #132
Chestermiller said:
What would this equation predict for the relationship between stress and strain if ##\Delta T## were zero?

Here is a math problem for you to using with the so-called "SUVAT" equation: $$v_x=v_{x0}+at$$
Suppose I have a body moving with an initial velocity at time t=0 of ##v_{x0}=-10## m/s (i.e., the initial velocity is in the negative x direction). At time t = 0, I apply a constant force to the body to give it an acceleration "a" in the positive x direction (i.e., opposite to the direction of the initial velocity). What acceleration value do I have to apply so that, at t = 4 seconds, the velocity of the body is ##v_x=-2## m/s?
-2 = -10 +4(a) , a = 2(m/s^2)
 
  • #133
chetzread said:
-2 = -10 +4(a) , a = 2(m/s^2)
But, according to the rationale you have been using on the thermal expansion problem, you first should have rewritten the SUVAT equation as:
$$v_x=v_{x0}-at$$because a is in the opposite direction of ##v_{x0}##. Do you see the point I'm trying to make? You just can't arbitrarily change the sign of a term in an equation and expect to get the right answer.
 
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