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[Bente Altdorfer]

hi, for a welded steel coolant reservoir for a test stand – 4 m × 2 m × 1.5 m with internal bracing I need to account for thermal expansion. Fluid runs at 80–90 °C and then drops to ambient. Before I build load cases for the shell and stiffeners, how detailed must the thermal input be? In practice, do you assume a uniform ΔT and check self-straining forces, or do rectangular tanks with internal bracing usually require a more detailed temperature distribution/FEA?

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[Levin Hochstrasser]

Hey. A uniform ΔT is a first check. Steel coefficient is ~12e-6/K /K, so a ΔT of ~60 K gives free strain ≈7.2e-4; if fully restrained, that implies ≈151 MPa (E≈210 GPa), near yield for many steels. Do detailed steady-state or transient FEA when: 1- internal frames or attachments significantly restrain in-plane expansion; 2- you expect through-thickness or longitudinal gradients (e.g., stratified fluid, top surface cooling); 3 – welds and local attachments could concentrate loads; or 4- uniform-ΔT results are close to yield, buckling, or fatigue limits.

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