Transient Thermal Stress Analysis of a Rectangular Orthotropic Slab

This paper investigates the transient thermal stress problem of a rectangular slab, which possesses both thermal and elastic orthotropy. The slab initially held at a con-stant temperature is suddenly subjected to an arbitrary temperature variation along one of its edges. Based upon the solution of transient temperature field, the thermal stress analysis is performed based upon the further development of a displacement-potential approach. The complete stress field has been obtained in closed forms. Numerical results for a typical unidirectional fiber composite have demonstrated high concentration of thermal stresses far exceeding those generated in steady state thermal environment. 1