Thermoelastic Analysis of a Finite Orthotropic Slab

Abstract

Stationary two-dimensional temperature and stress distributions are examined for an orthotropic elastic body having a rectangular boundary. Temperature fields are determined for situations in which one edge of the rectangle experiences an arbitrary variation of temperature, heat flow or convection, while each of the remaining edges is either insulated or maintained at the initial temperature. Displacement potentials are then used to find the thermal stresses for those cases in which the temperature remains constant over two opposite ends of the rectangle. As an illustrative example, the temperature and stresses resulting from a uniform temperature rise over a portion of one edge of the rectangle are computed; numerical results are given for a fibre-reinforced composite material.