Thermal-Stress Analysis Checklist
Review prompts for thermal-stress analysis — temperature field transfer, constrained expansion, material properties and stress interpretation.
Purpose
For checking a thermal-stress analysis before accepting results.
Temperature Field
- Is the temperature field transferred correctly from the thermal model to the structural model? — Same mesh or mapped interpolation
- Is the reference temperature (stress-free temperature) correct? — Typically assembly temperature
- Are temperature-dependent material properties used if the range is significant? — E, α, σy may vary with T
Constraints
- Are the constraints representative of how thermal expansion is resisted? — A fully constrained surface gives maximum thermal stress
- Is the structure free to expand where it should be? — Over-constraint gives artificial thermal stress
- Are thermal contact gaps modelled correctly — opening and closing with temperature? — Contact nonlinearity may be required
Results
- Are thermal stresses combined with mechanical stresses in the assessment? — Not assessed separately unless specified
- Is the thermal stress direction consistent with the constraint and temperature gradient? — Comprehensive where constrained, tensile where free