Linear Thermal Expansion Coefficient
Linear thermal expansion coefficient, abbreviated as \(\overrightarrow{\alpha_l}\) (Greek symbol alpha), also called coefficient of linear thermal expansion, is a material property that quantifies how a material's length or dimension changes in response to a change in temperature. It describes the fractional change in length per unit change in temperature.
Different materials have different linear thermal expansion coefficients, and this property is important in various engineering and construction applications, such as designing structures and systems that need to withstand temperature changes without excessive deformation or stress. It's worth noting that materials expand when heated and contract when cooled, so the sign of the linear thermal expansion coefficient (positive or negative) indicates the direction of the change (expansion or contraction) with temperature change.
Linear thermal expansion coefficient Formula |
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\( \overrightarrow{\alpha_l} = \Delta l \;/\; l_i \; \Delta T \) (Linear Thermal Expansion Coefficient) \( \Delta l = \overrightarrow{\alpha_l} \; l_i \; \Delta T \) \( l_i = \Delta l \;/\; \overrightarrow{\alpha_l} \; \Delta T \) \( \Delta T = \Delta l \;/\; \overrightarrow{\alpha_l} \; l_i \) |
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Solve for αl
Solve for Δl
Solve for li
Solve for ΔT
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| Symbol | English | Metric |
| \( \overrightarrow{\alpha_l} \) (Greek symbol alpha) = linear thermal expansion coefficient | \(in \;/\; in\;F\) | \(mm \;/\; mm\;C\) |
| \( \Delta l \) = length change of the material due to the temperature change | \(ft\) | \(m\) |
| \( l_i \) = initial length of the material at a reference temperature | \(ft\) | \(m\) |
| \( \Delta T \) = temperature change | \(F\) | \(C\) |
