Question

the trans-Alaskan pipeline is 1,300 km long, reaching from Prudhoe Bay to the port of Valdez, and is subject to temperature ranging from -60C to +28C. (Assume the coefficient of thermal expansion of steel is 11 x 10^-6(C)^-1.)

(a) How much does the steel pipeline expand due to the difference in temperature?

(b) How can one compensate for this expansion?

Answer 1

a) Change in length is: -(1300 km)(11x10-*/°c)(28°c+ 60°c) b) Here to compensate this expansion use invar steel pipe which has least coefficient of linear expansion and there will be no expansion in the pipe.