InspectAPedia®   -   Search InspectApedia

Sloped Glazing details (C) InspectAPedia.comTable of Coefficient of Expansion of Building Materials
CLTE Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion for Common Building Materials

Thermal coefficient of expansion of building materials:

Here we provide a Table of Coefficient of Thermal Expansion of Building Materials - what is the linear expansion of glass, metal, wood, masonry or plastic in response to temperature changes.

We include a discussion of the definition of thermal coefficient of expansion, how thermal expansion causes trouble in building materials, and how to use the data in the thermal expansion table to calculate changes in material size as temperatures change.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

Table of Coefficients of Thermal Expansion of Common Building Materials

Vinyl siding installation at very low temperatures in Two Harbors MN (C) Daniel Friedman 2016How do building materials change in dimension in response to temperature changes, sun, shade, ice, snow?How do the dimensions of different building materials vary with temperature, heat, cold?

Table of Coefficient of Expansion of Building Materials. Sketch at page top and accompanying text are reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss.

Photo: vinyl siding being installed in very cold temperatures in Two Harbors, Minnesota.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Definition of CoTE: Coefficient of Thermal Expansion

CoTE or Coefficient of Thermal Expansion gives change per unit dimension of material in response to change (increase or decrease) in the material's temperature.

Definition of CLTE: Coefficient of Linear Theral Expansion

The coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) of any material is the change of a material's dimension per unit change in temperature. - special thanks to reader Eric, P.E.

The coefficient of thermal expansion or CLTE, Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion

The linear expansion of a heated solid (or liquid) is measured by

α = the coefficient of linear expansion,

The coefficient of thermal expansion is defined such that α measures the percentage change in the length of the material per degree of temperature change.

Be careful in comparing the coefficient of expansion of different materials from different reference sources for thermal expansion coefficients as various references quote α in degrees C, others in degrees F.

Usually people use the term CLTE or Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion as expansion along the long dimension of a material is most likely to be greater and thus of greater concern in construction. CLTE may be expressed as a fraction or as a power of ten as you'll see in the table below.

The following simple formula for the coefficient of thermal linear expansion in a building material is written to measure the percentage change in length per degree of temperature change:

α = (Change in Length / Original Length) / Change in Temperature

One can write similar formulas to calculate the coefficient of thermal expansion of a material in area (applicable, for example in thermal splitting of asphalt roof shingles ) or to calculate the coefficient of thermal expansion of volume. But because so many building material failures and leaks derive from cracks or openings due to thermal expansion of materials in length, that is our focus here.

Comparison of Coefficients of Linear Temperature Expansion (CLTE) of Common Building Materials

CLTE Ordered by Name of Material
Ordered by Coefficient of Thermal [Temperature] Expansion 
Material Coefficient of Expansion in inches of expansion per inch of material per degree F.  Material Coefficient of Expansion in inches of expansion per inch of material per degree F. 
ABS plastic 0.0000170 (glass fiber-reinforced) Acrylic 0.0001300 (extruded)
ABS plastics 0.0000410 Polyethylene 0.0001110
    Vinyl2 (siding & trim)
0.000045 or 4.5×10 −5 in/in/F 1, 2
    PVC (cellular) 0.000045 or 4.5 x 10-5 in/in/F 1
Acrylic 0.0001300 (extruded) Polycarbonates 0.0000440
Acrylic 0.0000410 (sheet cast) ABS plastics 0.0000410
Aluminum

0.0000123 - 0.0000129 or 0.000029 (other sources)

0.000117 to 0.111137 or 11.7 to 13.7 x 10-5 in/in/F 1

α (ppm) = 29 (0–600 °C)
α = coefficient of linear expansion (°C−1)

Acrylic 0.0000410 (sheet cast)
Aluminum Alloys

0.0000117 or 11.7 x 10-6 in/in/F

Note that "alloys" is not defined and could vary significantly

   
Brass 0.0000104 - 190 Epoxy 0.0000310
Brick 0.011811 - 0.0629921 /degF vs
0.0000031 (brick masonry) 11, 13, 14, 15
5 - 7 x 10-6 per degC 18
best citation 13
Ice 0.0000280 (effects of freezing water)
Cast iron 0.0000058 ABS plastic 0.0000170 (glass fiber-reinforced)
Cast iron 0.0000060 (gray cast iron) Zinc 0.0000165
Cement 0.0000060 Lead 0.0000151
Clay tile 0.0000033 Aluminum 0.0000123 - 0.0000129
Concrete

0.0000080 (Concrete structure = 0.0000055)14

0.000004 to 0.000007 or 0.4 to 0.7 x 10-5 in/in/F 1

Brass 0.0000104 - 190
Copper 0.0000093 Copper 0.0000093
Epoxy 0.0000310 Concrete 0.0000080 (Concrete structure = 0.0000055)
Glass, hard

0.0000033

or

0.0000040 or 0.4 x 10-5 in/in/F 1

Iron, pure 0.0000067
Glass, plate 0.00000500 Steel 0.0000063 - 0.0000073 (also Iron, forged)
Glass, Pyrex 0.0000022 Cast iron 0.0000060 (gray cast iron)
Granite 0.0000044 (also Limestone, Marble) Cement 0.0000060
Ice 0.0000280 (effects of freezing water) Cast iron 0.0000058
Iron, pure 0.0000067 Glass, plate 0.0000050
Lead 0.0000151 Granite 0.0000044 (also Limestone, Marble)
Masonry 0.0000026 - 0.0000050 Nylon 0.00000447 (molding & extruding compound)
Mortar 0.0000041 - 0.0000075 Mortar 0.0000041 - 0.0000075
Nylon 0.0000447 (molding & extruding compound) Clay tile 0.0000033
Polycarbonates 0.0000440 Glass, hard 0.0000033
Polyethylene 0.0001110 Brick 0.0000031 (brick masonry)
Polystyrene 4.16 x 10-5 in/in/F    
Polyurethane 11.0 x 10-4 in/in/F (Density Dependent) 1    
PVC1(rigid) 0.000035 or 3.5x10,-5 in/in/F 1    
PVC (cellular) 0.000045 or 4.5 x 10-5 in/in/F 1    

Stainless Steel

SS 301
SS 303, 304, 305 & SS 308
SS 309
SS 316 & SS 317
SS 321 & SS 347
SS 403
SS 420 & 430F
SS 446
SS 501 & SS 502

(varies by alloy/composition)

16.9 ppm/°C
17.3
14.9
16.0
16.7
9.9
10.45
10.6
11.15
   
Steel

0.0000063 - 0.0000073 (also Iron, forged)

0.000008 or 0.8 x 10-5 in/in/F 1

Wood,Oak 0.0000030 (across grain)
Vinyl2 (siding & trim)
0.000045 or 4.5×10 −5 in/in/F 1, 2    
Water see HOT WATER PRESSURE EXPANSION RATE    
Wood,Oak 0.0000030 (across grain) Wood, Pine 0.0000028
Wood, Oak 0.0000027 (parallel to grain) Wood, Oak 0.0000027 (parallel to grain)
Wood, Pine

0.0000028

or in other sources

0.000004 or 0.4 to 0.5 x 10-5 parallel to the grain

and

0.000034 to 0.000058
or
3.4 to 5.8 x 10 -5
at right angles to the fiber direction or grain

Masonry 0.0000026 - 0.0000050
Zinc 0.0000165 Glass, Pyrex 0.0000022

Notes to the table above

  1. ASTM. 1997. Standard methods for testing small clears pecimens of timber. ASTM D143. West Conshohocken,PA: American Society for Testing and Materials.
  2. Kollman, F.F.P.; Côté, W.A., Jr. 1968. Principles ofwood science and technology I—solid wood. New York,Springer–Verlag New York, Inc.
  3. Panshin, A.J.; deZeeuw, C. 1980. Textbook of woodtechnology. New York: McGraw–Hill. Vol. 1, 4th ed
  4. Special thanks to Bob Fankhauser Email: blueboxconst@hevanet.com, a retired engineer / professional handyman and Habitat for Humanity volunteer who offered comments, suggestions, additions for vinyl CLTE (Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion), CPVC, PVC, cellular PVC, and vinyl (25 Feb 20-16) as well as helpful discussion concerning the wide variation in coefficients of expansion of materials given by various sources.
  5. Stainless steel coefficients of expansion: University of Chicago, LINEAR THERMAL EXPANSION COEFFICIENTS of METALS & ALLOYS, Table 17-1, [PDF] retrieved 2017.11.13, original source: https://psec.uchicago.edu/thermal_coefficients/cte_metals_05517-90143.pdf
  6. Smith, Thomas L., AIA, CRC, METAL ROOFING: 'FIXING' for THERMAL MOVEMENT [PDF] NRCA, National Roofing Contractors Association
  7. Weatherwax, R.C.; Stamm, A.J. THE COEFFICIENTS OF THERMAL EXPANSION OF WOOD AND WOOD PRODUCTS [PDF] (1956) Transactionsof American Society of Mechanical Engineers. 69(44):421–432
  8. Simpson, William, Anton TenWolde, WOOD HANDBOOK, PHYSICAL PROPERTIES of WOOD - Chapter 3 Physical Properties & Moisture RElations of Wood [PDF] p. 3-21, "Coefficients of Expansion" in Forest Products Laboratory. 1999. Wood handbook—Wood as an engineering material.Gen. Tech. Rep. FPL–GTR–113. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,Forest Products Laboratory. 463 p. USFPS, retrieved 2020/10/23 original source: https://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr113/ch03.pdf
  9. Skaar, C. 1988. Wood–water relations. New York:Springer–Verlag. New York, Inc.
  10. See Notes 1 & 2 and details now found at VINYL SIDING COEFFICIENT of LINEAR EXPANSION
  11. Engineering Toolbox website, provides a more extensive table of coefficients of linear expansion at engineeringtoolbox.com/linear-expansion-coefficients-d_95.html
    retrieved de-novo 2023/07/24
  12. Western Washington University Thermal Expansion is described and defined in a clear article that also gives both linear and volumetric coefficients of thermal expansion at 20 degC. for a variety of materials at ac.wwu.edu/~vawter/PhysicsNet/Topics/Thermal/ThermExpan.html
    Web: www.wwu.edu
  13. Ross, Culbertson W., THERMAL EXPANSION of CLAY BUILDING BRICKS [PDF] (1941) NIST, National Institute of Standards & Technology, retrieved 2023/07/24, original source: nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/jres/27/jresv27n2p197_A1b.pdf

    Abstract:

    The coefficients of thermal expansion of 139 bricks were measured over the range -10° to +400 C (140 to 1040 F). These bricks included 1 sample of sand-lime, 9 of fire-clay, and 61 of clay and shale bricks.

    The clay and shale bricks represented a wide range in properties and included samples from various districts in the United States. The coefficients of 87 percent of the clay and shale bricks were between 5 and 7 millionths per 0 C (2.8 to 3.9 per 0 F).

    The average coefficient of the clay bricks was 6.0 (3.3), of the shale bricks 6.1 (3.4), and of the fireclay bricks 3.9 millionths per 0 C (2.2 per 0 F).

    No relation was observed between the thermal expansion and the other physical properties of the bricks.

    Excerpts: The change in length of building bricks due to temperature changes is one of the factors sometimes blamed for cracking of brick-masonry walls.

    The coefficients of thermal expansion ranged from 3.7 to 13.6 millionths per 0 C (2.1 to 7.6 per 0 F), with an average of 6.3 (3.5).
  14. Kidger, Peter, Dickinson, Chris, CLAY vs BRICK MOVEMENT of MASONRY [PDF] (2016) Clay Brick Association of Southern Africa, Web: claybrick.org
    Addresses movement of masonry due to changes in temperature or moisture or both.
  15. AZO Materials, BRICK WALLS - Expansion and Expansion Gaps - (2022) retrieved 2023/07/24, original source: azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=1327

    Excerpts:
    The coefficient of expansion or ‘e’ value of clay bricks when tested in accordance with AS/NZS 4456.11 can vary from a very low 0.3mm/m (millimetres per metre) to over 1.6mm/m.

    Most general purpose bricks have a coefficient of expansion in the range 0.5 to 1.0mm/m over 15 years.


    Clay bricks have a once off, permanent expansion after manufacture due to the firing process that extracts all moisture from the brick. This expansion is between 0 and 0.2%.

    CLAY BRICK: Thermal expansion and contraction is minimal throughout the year. Depending on the clay mixture and firing process, the coefficient of linear thermal movement is 4-8.

    We think the authors mean 4-8 ? per ˚C - Ed. details needed.

    CONCRETE BRICK: Moisture movement is exacerbated by a daily cycle of thermal expansion and contraction. Depending on the type of aggregate and proportions, the coefficient of linear thermal movement is 7-14.

    CONCRETE BLOCK: The movement coefficient of concrete blocks is similar to concrete bricks, but because blocks are larger the magnitude of movement is greater. Large blocks show cracks and plaster crazing more than smaller concrete units.
  16. NCMA, CONCRETE MASONRY MANUAL [PDF] 7th Ed (2005) National Concrete Manufacturers Association, P O Box 168 Halfway House 1685 / 18 McIntyre St 18 McIntyre St, Glenlily, Cape Town, 7500 South Africa, Tel: +27 11 805-6742 Facsimile: + 27 11 315-4683 e-mail: cma@mweb.co.za Web site: www.cma.org.za Seventh Edition – revised 2005. Illustrations: John L Betts MIA Editor: J W Lane ISBN: 0-9584142-7-0
  17. SABS, SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL STANDARD, Part K: WALLS [PDF] SABS Standards Division 1 Dr Lategan Road Groenkloof Image Private Bag X191 Pretoria 0001 Tel: +27 12 428 7911 Fax: +27 12 344 1568 www.sabs.co.za - retrieved 2023/07/24, original source: https://ia801406.us.archive.org/5/items/za.sans.10400.k.2011/za.sans.10400.k.2011.html

    Excerpts from Table 19:
    Burnt Clay moisture expansion: < .05 to 0.20 %
    NOTE 1 SANS 227 contains a test procedure to establish the moisture expansion of burnt clay bricks.

Readers can see from these building material coefficients of thermal expansion (also called coefficient of linear temperature expansion) that assembling a building component that uses multiple materials requires methods that allow for these differences in the degree of expansion as temperatures change.

Failing to permit movement of abutting or connected building materials whose rate of thermal expansion varies significantly will lead to separation, cracks, leaks, or damage in many instances.

Examples of the problems caused by differences in thermal expansion of building materials are particularly seen in windows and skylights.

See SLOPED GLAZING DETAILS

At SKYLIGHT LEAK DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR we include an example of failure of roof flashing cement that has lost its ability to tolerate thermal expansion and contraction on the building.

As we discuss at CRACKS & THERMAL SPLITTING in FIBERGLASS SHINGLES, we have not found a source defining the coefficient of thermal expansion of asphalt roof shingles
- CONTACT Us if you can provide that information.

Calculation Examples using the Thermal Coefficient of Expansion of Materials

How much does aluminum siding expand when heated by rising ambient temperatures or sunlight?

While an accurate answer would include the effect of the siding color on thermal gain from direct exposure to sunlight along with the angle of sunlight hitting the siding and the duration of sun exposure, what follows is a "ballpark" calculation ignoring those niceties.

The coefficient of linear expansion of Aluminium is about 22 x (10-6) m/mC or 22 x 0.000001 per unit-length per degree C of temperature rise.

Or re-stating, aluminum siding will expand along its length from 21 to about 24 micrometers (about 22 um) per meter of length for each 1°C increase in its temperature.

What would be the thermal expansion of aluminum siding of a single segment of 20 ft (6.1m) if we heat it from 41°F up to 81°F?

if the temperature increases by 25C (say from 5 C to 30C = 41F to 86F) the increase in length in the siding segment will be

22 x 20ft x 25C x (10-6) = 0.011ft of expansion

That doesn’t look like much. But wait! Let's convert that to inches:

0.11 ft x 12 (inches per foot) = 0.132 inches. (If we've got this right)

That's enough to make a popping or banging noise if the aluminum siding is installed too-tightly or is constrained between vertical abutting trim.

Sanity Check:

I looked at George Metaxas commenton Quorum quora.com 4 October 2020. George, a retired EE, wrote

The coefficient of linear expansion of Aluminium is about 22x(10^-6) m/mC.

As the piece is 3.6m long, for a temperature increase of 55C, the elongation will be: 22 x 3.6 x 55 x (10^-6) = 4356 x10^-6 m = 4.35 mm.

4.33 mm, for you inch-people, is 0.17 inches across just 12 ft. of length.

 




ADVERTISEMENT





Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2023-05-10 by InspectApedia Editor (mod) - correction to the table of coefficients of expansion of materials, arranged by value

@Mike,

Thank you SO much, really, for taking the time to write and offer a correction.

We've edited and re-arranged the table as per the error that you pointed out.

On 2023-05-10 by Mike - sorted table of thermal coefficients should put vinyl and pvc near the top

The sorted table of thermal coefficients is not correctly sorted, vinyl and pvc should be number 3 and 4 but without converting from engineering notation to decimal it is not immediately obvious unless you deal with engineering notation daily.

On 2021-11-04 y Inspectapedia Com Moderator (mod) - diagnosing bang & boom noises that might be due to thermal changes

@Yihang,

Please help us out by posting your questions just once in one place - we have thousands of readers we try to serve- tripling our workload makes it hard for us.

You posted and we replied at https://inspectapedia.com/noise_diagnosis/Bang-Boom-Noise-Sources.php

On 2021-11-03 by Yihang

Hi, I lived in an apartment in Auckland Central for one year. Everything was fine before.
But 3 weeks ago I started to hear strange thudding/thumping noise almost every morning from about 10am to 1pm.

Sometimes I will also hear the noise at 4pm. The thudding noises seem to occur randomly throughout the time period, so two thumps, one is less louder and one is louder and then several minutes later another two thumps.

There is also another strange phenomenon is that, sometimes, within a very short time interval, say 30 seconds, there are about 5 thudding noises, like boom, boom, boom , boom, boom. It never happens at evening(but this is what I am afraid for).

What is actually going on?I lived in the top floor of the apartment and the thudding noises sometimes seem to coming from the ceiling but other times seem to coming from the floor where my downstairs neighbour promised me so many times that they did not make any of such noises!

On 2020-10-23 by danjoefriedman (mod) - coefficient of expansion of engineered wood.

Joe

Thanks for the question about the coefficient of expansion of engineered wood.

Composite wood beams, like other wood products, will expand and contract with changes in moisture (and less so with temperature) across the grain - across the width and thickness of the beam more than along the length (parallel to the grain).

The coefficient of thermal expansion of pine and spruce parallel to the wood-grain is about 0.4 to 0.5 x 10-5 and perpendicular to the fiber direction 3.4 to 5.8 x 10 -5.

Other sources like that used in my table above give Pine as 0.0000028 /inch as the Coefficient of Expansion in inches of expansion per inch of material per degree F.

So let's calculate the "worst case" or most expansion that occurs across the grain using Pine:

a 2x12 is roughly 11.25" deep (not really 12" unless it's rough cut)

-40C is about -40F too.

+ 30C is about + 86F

So we have a total F-degree change of 40+86 = 126 degrees F

(11.25 inches of material x 0.0000028 expansion per degree) x 126 degrees = about 0.004" across the grain

or using another source

0.4 to 0.5 x 10-5 expansion along the grain (parallel to the grain or in length) as a "worst case" for lengthening, we have

.000005 x (total beam length not given) x 126 degrees = ?? length change

Maybe if you post a sketch I'll understand better;

Interestingly, dry wood reacts less than damp wood to temperature variations.

I have not found stable estimates of the coefficients of expansion of wood in response to moisture alone or at a fixed temperature and am researching that.

On 2020-10-22 by Joe Tworek - thermal expansion/contraction in an engineered wood beam

I am building a shop mezzanine, the main beam will be a composite made out of 3, 2X12’s held together with 1/2 in carriage bolts spaced 4 in vertically every 3 ft the entire length of the beam. I don’t want the beam to contact the shop walls.

The 2x12’s are a soft lumber probably Spruce, I live in Alberta, Canada where the temp can vary from -40C in the winter to 30C in the summer. How much thermal expansion of the beam do you expect based on this. Thank You.

On 2020-07-19 by danjoefriedman (mod) - different coefficient of expansion for aluminum alloys.

Roger thanks so much for taking the time to give a different coefficient of expansion for aluminum alloys.

I can but speculate that there can be rather different LCTEs depending on just which alloy is being tested.

One may also get a different coefficient of expansion depending on the exact conditions, such as how aluminum wire of a particular alloy is employed, the use of antioxidents or thermal grease.

One may also get a different LCTE depending on the measurement method used, as we see in some research articles.

And of course how the aluminum is being employed

Let's do some further research on sources.

On 2020-07-19 by Roger - the LCTE of aluminum alloys is approximately 11 x 10^-6 /F rather than 11 x 10^-5 /F.

The Engineering Toolbox (and others) suggest that the LCTE of aluminum alloys is approximately 11 x 10^-6 /F rather than 11 x 10^-5 /F.

Any comments?

Question: find and fix banging & knocking noises from pillars & roof of this Florida Patio

Banging knocking noise sources on Florida Patio (C) InspectApedia.com  DPAfter endlessly searching online I happened across your site. I have been dealing with this problem for over a year. I'm in Florida and I had a patio screen room added to my home last August. It's constructed entirely of aluminum except for the roof which is an unknown material insulated with some sort of styrofoam. I attached a picture.

[Click to enlarge any image]

My problem is that I am hearing intermittent banging and knocking noises coming from the pillars and the areas of roof. It sounds as if something is hitting it. I have inspected for everything including birds, insects, lizards, squirrels etc. It is NOT any sort of animal.

What I do find interesting is that I do seem to hear it more frequently when there are slightly breezy conditions but I still hear it whether it's breezy or not.

Nothing is hanging or loose.

I contacted the builder and told him about it. He came out about 4-5 months ago to inspect it.

He checked it from top to bottom and couldn't find anything wrong with it.

He said it could possibly be expanding and releasing from temperature changes but he can't be sure.

But literally minutes after he left, it began knocking and banging again.

Obviously he can fix what isn't present. I am trying to figure out HOW I can capture these sounds as evidence of what is happening here daily! All I can seem to find online are voice activated devices. This clearly isn't a voice. I am desperate to fix this issue as these knocking sounds interfere with my peace and enjoyment.

Can you help me figure this out? This enclosure cost me $13,000 and I can't even enjoy it! It's extremely aggravating.
Thank you and I hope to hear from you soon. - Anonymoys by private email 2020/10/17

Moderator reply:

The most-common explanation is just what your builder gave,

Thermal expansion and contraction, is probably the culprit, anon.

Those noises can appear as banging, knocking, or clicks, squeaks, or tapping sounds as metal or other components of your Florida patio move against one another during temperature changes, also affected by wind and changes in humidity, even barometric pressure.

The conceptual explanation is that different materials expand and contract at different rates - as illustrated in the article above on this page on coefficients of thermal expansion. So they move differently and so move against one another to produce sound.

Reader follow-up:

So there's nothing that can be done? I feel I should have been advised of this BEFORE construction. I never would have agreed to this

Moderator reply:

I did not say that Dayna

But I'm reluctant to pretend to diagnose and repair sounds without any more information;

Of course there is something to be done, and in many cases the repair is economically reasonable.

Where we get into trouble fixing thermal expansion/contraction noises are where large, expensive materials have been "permanently" installed such as in some metal roof systems, as we discuss

at TEMPERATURE CHANGE & ROOF NOISE.

In that case we still have the option of insulating under the roof to reduce noise transmission into the building interior.

But for your Florida patio, with aluminum-wrappd components, the solution may be far more reasonable.

First identify the actual moving parts and confirm what's going on; often an adjustment in fasteners or use of sealants can solve the problem.

POPPING SNAPPING NOISE DIAGNOSIS is the topic home page where we organize all of our diagnostic and repair articles on this.

Ask your roofer to be prepared to come by quickly the next time there's a prolonged session of noises from your patio, and also see if you can yourself by careful observation, perhaps aided by a mechanic's stethoscope, pinpoint the location of at least one connection that's noisy.

If I were doing this I'd first look outside at the components that are getting the most heat from sun exposure.

On 2020-03-18 by (mod) - coefficient of expansion for marble

Re-posting Q&A

Jayantibhai said:

What thermal expansion of composite marble dimensions 20ft by 30 ft at 40degree centigrade?

This Q&A were posted originally at FORENSIC INVESTIGATION of BUILDINGS


Moderator reply: The thermal expansion of marble is about the same as granite -

The thermal expansion of marble is about the same as granite -

Coefficient of Expansion in inches of expansion per inch of material per degree F.
Granite = 0.0000044 (also Limestone, Marble)

Use your browser's on-page search function such as Ctrl-F to search the page above for "marble" to find more details.

On 2019-12-29 by (Mod)- engineer tunes-up table of coefficients of expansion of materials

Thak you so much for taking the time to comment, Eric; we will edit the article above accordingly and will keep your comments with this page.

On 2019-12-29 by Eric

Suggestions from a licensed professional engineer:

1. "Definition of CLTE: The coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) of any material is the change in the material’s length [and to a much lesser degree the width or thickness] per unit change in temperature.

CLTE applies to the length, width, and thickness equally, not "too a much lesser degree". If the width and thickness are smaller, the expansion will be smaller, however the ratio remains the same. I'd suggest replacing with: "Definition of CLTE: The coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) of any material is the change of a material's dimension per unit change in temperature."

2. "The coefficient of thermal expansion is defined such that α measures the percentage change in the length of the material per degree of temperature change."

The CoTE does not indicate percentage change, it indicates change per unit dimension of material. Suggestion to take out "percentage".

Also, the table should list all numbers in the same format (i.e., you have "0.00000234", "16.9 ppm", "4.5 x 10(-5)", and also show (sometimes) the units in the table, even including C for a table that everything else is in F. The units are already given in the column header, so suggestion to take out units, convert those that are in C to F, and format all numbers to be in a single format.

On 2019-05-19 - by (mod) - dimensional changes in a wood framed house

Herman

You ask an interesting question but we need to be rather clear, and perhaps more narrow in our question and answer since even a traditional wood frame house has plenty of other materials involved in its construction besides wood.

The coefficient of expansion for pine is 0.0000028 inches per inch of material per degree F.

You could add up the widths of all of the framing members whose width or narrow dimension is along the same axis as a house exterior wall - but not all of those would change the building width. For example, even if a wall stud shrinks or expands in the middle of a wall, it's not likely to make a measurable change in overall building width - it simply expands and contracts inside its adjoining joist bays.

So you'd look only at framing members whose position is such that their thickness determines the overall wall width or length. That's probably pretty-few: corner posts, intermediate posts not abutting an open joist bay. That might be just three or four 2x4 or 2x6 widths (depending on how the house is framed) -

So take a look at the framing plan for your house, add up the pertinent widths along the long dimension, and then plug those into the table above, probably assuming the wood is pine.

You'll also have to make some assumptions about moisture levels and perhaps tightness of framing and framing connectors.

I suspect that other materials such as siding expand and contract more than the frame - considerably more - which is why installation instructions call for appropriate gaps.

On 2019-05-06 by Herman

If I had a traditional wood frame house, say 25' x 35' how many inches would it shrink and grow from -10°F to 100° F?


...

Continue reading at THERMAL EXPANSION of HOT WATER or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS FAQs - questions & answers posted originally at this page

Or see these

Recommended Articles

Suggested citation for this web page

THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to EXTERIORS of BUILDINGS

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.

Search the InspectApedia website

Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.

Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like.
You will not receive a notification
when a response to your question has been posted.
Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response.
Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca

Comment Form is loading comments...

Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.



ADVERTISEMENT