Class 11 Physics simulations · Mechanical Properties of Solids

Thermal stress in a clamped rod

Heat a rod held between rigid walls. It cannot expand, so a large compressive stress builds up.

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What to notice

The stress does not depend on the rod’s length — only on the material and the temperature rise.

Key relation

stress = Y α ΔT ; F = Y A α ΔT

Try this

Compare steel with aluminium for the same temperature rise.

What you can change

• Material: choose Steel, Copper, Aluminium
• Temperature rise ΔT: 0 to 100 K
• Cross-section area: 1 to 10 cm²

More in Mechanical Properties of Solids

• Compression and bulk modulus
• Elastic energy stored in a wire
• Stretching a spring
• Poisson’s ratio: stretch and thin
• Shear deformation
• Springs in series and parallel
• Stress–strain curve
• Young’s modulus

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