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PRACTICE / Thermal expansion

Series rods share force, not stress

Two 1.0 m rods in series fit between rigid supports without initial stress. Their cross-sectional areas are 10 mm² and 20 mm²; their α values are 10 × 10⁻⁶ and 20 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ respectively. Both have Y = 100 GPa and warm by 30 K. Exclude buckling and yielding.

What is the common compressive force magnitude?

Organize the givens & assumptions
  • L1 = L2 = 1 m
  • A1 = 10 mm²; A2 = 20 mm²
  • α1 = 10 × 10⁻⁶; α2 = 20 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹
  • Y1 = Y2 = 100 GPa
  • Rise = 30 K

Uniform temperatures and the stated expansion coefficients; small thermal strains and first-order expansion unless a retained ratio is explicitly requested. Free expansion except for the named axial constraints. Constrained rods remain straight and linearly elastic; no buckling, yielding or moving supports.

  1. A600 N600\ \mathrm N
  2. B900 N900\ \mathrm N
  3. C450 N450\ \mathrm N
  4. D1200 N1200\ \mathrm N

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