FINITE ELEMENT IMPLEMENTATION OF NONLINEAR THERMO-ELASTICITY AS TYPICAL COUPLING OF DIFFUSION AND MOMENTUM BALANCE

The formulation and algorithmic aspects of nonlinear thermo-elasticity are reviewed in the paper. The attention is focused on coupling due to thermal expansion and temperature dependence of elastic model parameters, and on the consistent linearization of the ensuing nonlinear set of equations for two-field finite elements. Non-stationary heat flow, static loading and small strains are assumed. The solutions of some benchmark examples, obtained using the developed finite element environment FEMDK, are presented. The formulation has a more general application domain in the context of arbitrary coupling of a nonstationary diffusion proces and momentum balance.