Analysis of thermal stresses in beams: Comparison of finite element and analytical solutions

In this paper we analyze thermal stresses in beams. As it is generally known, temperature changes lead toward change in the geometrical dimensions. If temperature expansion or shrinkage of the bodies is constrained then stresses must occur. Such problem can be analyzed in the case of various structures: rods, beams, plates, shells, solids etc. We select beams as the problem at hand Usual problem, analyzed in standard courses in strength of materials, is the problem with homogenous temperature increase in every point of the. beam. Situation is significantly complicated if temperature change is considered to vary along the cross-section of the beam. For such problem, we review the analytical apparatus and make adequate numerical models by finite element method.