Transient thermal stress analysis of an infinite medium with a spherical cavity due to a nonuniform heat supply

In this article we deal with a transient thermal stress analysis of an infinite medium with a spherical cavity due to a nonuniform heat supply. Taking into account the thermomechanical coupling effect, we have treated the problem as an axisymmetric one, and then the temperature field and the associated thermoelastic field are determined with the aid of Laplace transforms. As an illustration, numerical calculations are carried out, and the influences of the thermomechanical coupling coefficient and the relative heat transfer coefficient on temperature and stress distributions are examined.