Analysis of Thermal Stresses in 304 Stainless Steel Plate-fin Structure

Thermal stresses in 304 stainless steel plate-fin structure at steady condition were calculated by finite element method. A squential coupling calculation procedure was developed to obtain the temperature and thermal stress distribution. The effects of plate thickness, fin thickness and filler metal thickness on thermal stresses were discussed. The results show that the thermal stresses in plate-fin structure are complex and nonuniform. The peak thermal stresses are shown in the fillet. With the plate thickness and fin thickness increasing, the thermal stresses are increased. The peak stresses are decreased as the filler metal thickness increasing.