Use the Thermal Expansion subnode to add an internal thermal strain caused by changes in temperature. The thermal strain depends on the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE)
α, the temperature
T, and the strain-free reference temperature
Tref as
From the Temperature T list, select an existing temperature variable from a heat transfer interface (for example,
Temperature (htsh/sol1)), if any temperature variables exist. For
User defined enter a value or expression for the temperature. This is the mid-surface temperature of the shell, controlling the membrane part of the thermal expansion. Iff needed, you can add a through-thickness temperature gradient in the
Thermal Bending section.
From the Coefficient of thermal expansion α list, select
From material to use the coefficient of thermal expansion from the material, or
User defined to enter a value or expression for
α. Select
Isotropic,
Diagonal or
Symmetric to enter one or more components for a general coefficient of thermal expansion tensor
α. When a non-isotropic coefficient of thermal expansion is used, the axis orientations are given by the coordinate system selection in the parent node.
Enter a value or expression of the Strain reference temperature Tref, which is the reference temperature where the thermal strain is zero.
Enter the Temperature difference in thickness direction ΔTz, which affects the thermal bending. This is the difference between the temperatures at the top and bottom surfaces.
Physics tab with Linear Elastic Material node selected in the model tree:
Attributes>Thermal Expansion
