Thermo-elastic stress of a metal-matrix composite disc under linearly-increasing temperature loading by analytical and FEM analysis

In this study, the elastic stress analysis of a composite disc with aluminium matrix subjected to a linearly-increasing temperature distribution has been carried out. The values of tangential and radial stress components that have occurred under the effect of the temperature from the inner surface of the disc towards the outer surface have been obtained by two different methods, numerical and analytical. In the analytical analysis, a computer program has been developed to get the values of thermal stresses. But in the numerical study carried out with the finite-element method, Abaqus 6.8 package program has been used. As a result of these analyses, it has been observed that the stress values obtained from both methods support each other. It has been determined under this temperature distribution that tangential stress components are always on the condition of compression in the inner surface of the disc and of tensile in the outer surface. It has also been found out that radial stress components are always in the state of tensile along the whole profile of the disc. Finally, the stress analysis of the same composite disc subjected to this temperature distribution, but with a reduced mass, has also been examined numerically. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved