Warmtelast

Warmtelast is a term used in engineering to describe the thermal load imposed on a material or structure by heat input or temperature change. It encompasses both the amount of heat that must be dissipated or stored and the mechanical effects that follow, such as expansion, stress, and deformation. The word combines elements meaning heat and load and is related to Germanic terms like Wärmelast, though its usage varies by field.

Assessment of warmtelast involves estimating heat flow, temperature change, and the resulting strains and stresses. In a simple linear-elastic framework, a material with coefficient of thermal expansion α experiences an unconstrained strain of αΔT when the temperature changes by ΔT. If movement is restrained, this becomes a thermal stress σ ≈ EαΔT, where E is the Young’s modulus. For cyclic or transient heating, warmtelast describes thermal fatigue risks and requires time-dependent analysis.

Applications are found in building engineering, electronics, automotive, and civil engineering. In buildings, solar gains generate warmtelast on walls and roofs, influencing insulation design and window placement. In electronics, chip and component heat output creates localized warmtelast that drives cooling requirements. In bridges and other structures, varying outdoor temperatures produce thermal stresses that interact with mechanical loads.

Modeling commonly uses finite element analysis, complemented by empirical measurements with thermocouples and infrared mapping. Mitigation strategies include improving insulation, reducing thermal bridges, adding thermal masses, and implementing active cooling or ventilation.

See also thermal expansion, thermal stress, heat transfer, and thermal fatigue.