Thermoelastic strain and stress fields due to a spherical inclusion in an elastic half-space

Abstract

In this paper, closed form analytical expressions for thermoelastic strain and stress compo- nents due to a spherical inclusion in an elastic half-space are obtained. These expressions are derived in the context of steady-state uncoupled thermoelasticity using thermoelastic displacement potential functions. The thermal strain and stress fields are generated due to differences in the coefficients of linear thermal expansion between a subregion and the surrounding material. The strain and stress components for exterior points of the spheri- cal inclusion are same as those of the center of dilatation. Variations of strain and stress components for exterior and interior points of the spherical inclusion are shown graphically.