Transient Temperature Stresses in Axially Symmetrical Systems with Special Application to a Solid Rotor of a Steam Turbine

Abstract

A method of determining thermal stresses in axially symmetrical systems is described. The method is applicable to any axially symmetrical body of irregular shape in which temperature gradients occur in both radial and axial directions, such as ingots that ‘clink’ or crack when heated or cooled too quickly, or gas turbine ‘disks’ of appreciable thickness and to which the thin disk theories do not therefore apply. A convergent numerical solution can be obtained using a combination of two functions, and by ‘relaxing’ two governing equations. The thermal stresses can in this way be determined for any known axially symmetrical temperature distribution, whether its state be transient or steady. The application of the method to the solid rotor of a steam turbine is described.