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Thermal expansion calculator: linear growth and bearing heating

Linear expansion ΔL = α·L0·ΔT for steel, stainless, cast iron, aluminium and brass, and the bearing mounting temperature. Free, no sign-up.

  • Instant result
  • Formula and standards shown
  • On desktop and phone

Pre-filled example

A 10 m steel beam going from 20 °C to 80 °C, a change of 60 K.

m
K
More options (1)
10⁻⁶/K

Result

7.20mmElongation ΔL

Attach this calculation to a work order

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Bearing heating temperature in the fitting procedure

Here, the calculator is free and the result is gone when you close the page. In Reglova, it is attached to the work order on the right machine: you find it again at the next breakdown, and on audit day.

The CMMS software comparison, our gaps included
  • Attached to the work order with its inputs: the server recalculates it, it stays verifiable.
  • On the technician's phone, even without a network.
  • In the machine's history, for the next breakdown.
  • The asset's nameplate data pre-fills the calculation.
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Reglova · Calculations · Work order WO-AT01-04219
Silent video, 33 s: from the work order for an oil leak on a shear cylinder, the tightening torque of an M12 bolt, then "Attach to the work order". A step to tighten it to 93.1 N·m lands in the checklist (step text from the French demo data). Watch the video

When to calculate linear thermal expansion

  1. 01

    Plan the clearance of a slide or a long conveyor that heats up in service.

  2. 02

    Set an induction bearing heater to the right temperature.

  3. 03

    Understand seizure that appears when hot between two different materials.

Good to know

Above 120 °C, bearing steel may lose its hardness: heat by induction, with temperature control, never with a torch.

Linear expansion formula and coefficients

Two calculations in one: the elongation of a part, a shaft or a pipe under a temperature change (ΔL = α·L0·ΔT), and the temperature to heat a bearing to so that it slides onto its shaft, from the interference of the fit and the required mounting clearance. Coefficients for steel, stainless steel, cast iron, aluminium and brass are built in.

Formula · Reference documents

ΔL = α·L0·ΔT ; bearing heating: ΔT = (interference + mounting clearance)/(α·d)

α (10⁻⁶/K): steel 12, austenitic stainless 16, cast iron 10.5, aluminium 23, brass 19 ; 120 °C limit set by bearing manufacturers

Inputs and accepted ranges
InputUnitAccepted rangeExample
Calculation2 optionsElongation
Material6 optionsSteel
Expansion coefficient α (otherwise from material)10⁻⁶/K0.1 to 300Optional
Lengthif Calculation: Elongationm0.001 to 10,00010 m
Temperature change ΔTif Calculation: ElongationK-300 to 1,00060 K
Bearing bore dif Calculation: Shrink fittingmm1 to 2,000
Fit interferenceif Calculation: Shrink fittingmm0 to 2
Mounting clearance wantedif Calculation: Shrink fittingmm0 to 2
Ambient temperatureif Calculation: Shrink fitting°C-40 to 60
Calculated results
  • Elongation ΔLmm
  • Heating temperature°C
  • Temperature rise neededK
What the calculator flags
  • Above 120 °C the bearing steel may lose hardness: use controlled induction heating.

Fitting procedures kept with the asset they apply to

  • Breakdowns reported by QR code
  • Work orders on the phone, even without a network
  • Mandatory inspections reminded by email
  • Audit file as a PDF, in one click
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Free during the beta, no credit card