Table of Coefficient of Expansion of Building Materials
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What is the definition of coefficient of thermal expansion?
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Table of Coefficient of Expansion of Building Materials
Questions & answers about the thermal expansion or contraction of buildng materials as temperatures vary
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.
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Table of Coefficients of Thermal Expansion of Common Building Materials
Sketch at page top and accompanying text are reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss.
Definition of the coefficient of 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 coefficienbts as various references quote α in degrees C, others in degrees F.
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 - see CRACKS in FIBERGLASS 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 of Common Building Materials
Name of Material
Coefficient of 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
Acrylic
0.0001300 (extruded)
Polycarbonates
0.0000440
Acrylic
0.0000410 (sheet cast)
ABS plastics
0.0000410
Aluminum
0.0000123 - 0.0000129
Acrylic
0.0000410 (sheet cast)
Brass
0.0000104 - 190
Epoxy
0.0000310
Brick
0.0000031 (brick masonry)
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)
Brass
0.0000104 - 190
Copper
0.0000093
Copper
0.0000093
Epoxy
0.0000310
Concrete
0.0000080 (Concrete structure = 0.0000055)
Glass, hard
0.0000033
Iron, pure
0.0000067
Glass, plate
0.0000050
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
0.00000447 (molding & extruding compound)
Clay tile
0.0000033
Polycarbonates
0.0000440
Glass, hard
0.0000033
Polyethylene
0.0001110
Brick
0.0000031 (brick masonry)
Steel
0.0000063 - 0.0000073 (also Iron, forged)
Wood,Oak
0.0000030 (across grain)
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
Masonry
0.0000026 - 0.0000050
Zinc
0.0000165
Glass, Pyrex
0.0000022
Readers can see from these building material coefficients of thermal expansion (also called coefficeint 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 particulary seen in windows and skylights (see SLOPED GLAZING DETAILS), in masonry chimneys (see Chimney Crack Detection & Diagnosis), in brick (and some other masonry) walls (see Brick Thermal Expansion Cracking), in defective asphalt roof shingles (see CRACKS in FIBERGLASS SHINGLES) and in long metal flashings in roof valleys and in copper lined traditional yankee gutters. 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 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.
Questions & Answers regarding this article
Questions & answers about the thermal expansion or contraction of buildng materials as temperatures vary.
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Solar Age Magazine was the official publication of the American Solar Energy Society. The contemporary solar energy magazine associated with the Society is Solar Today. "Established in 1954, the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is the nation's leading association of solar professionals & advocates. Our mission is to inspire an era of energy innovation and speed the transition to a sustainable energy economy. We advance education, research and policy. Leading for more than 50 years.
ASES leads national efforts to increase the use of solar energy, energy efficiency and other sustainable technologies in the U.S. We publish the award-winning SOLAR TODAY magazine, organize and present the ASES National Solar Conference and lead the ASES National Solar Tour – the largest grassroots solar event in the world."
Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com.
Excerpts with updates and annotations expanding the original Best Practices Guide text can be found in the online review and book summary at BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE and also at DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION, at INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE, and in other articles found at InspectAPedia.com such as HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS, SOUND CONTROL in buildings, and other topics.
Engineering Toolbox website, provides a more extensive table of coefficients of linear expansion at http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/linear-expansion-coefficients-d_95.html
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 http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~vawter/PhysicsNet/Topics/Thermal/ThermExpan.html
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