An improved scaled boundary finite element method for thermoelastic analysis of plate elements under various boundary conditions

In this paper, a modified scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM) is developed to investigate the thermoelastic behavior of plate structures under thermal loading. The computational framework is based on three-dimensional elasticity theory and implemented via an enhanced SBFEM formulation. In this enhanced approach, the geometry is constructed by translating a two-dimensional mesh along the thickness direction, a concept equivalent to placing the scaling center of the SBFEM at infinity. This technique eliminates geometric errors introduced by discretization, thereby improving modeling accuracy, while retaining the essential advantages of the conventional SBFEM—only the boundary of the computational domain requires discretization, and analytical solution capability is maintained through the thickness. The thermoelastic response of the system is subsequently solved using the precise integration method. The accuracy and reliability of the proposed method are verified through comparisons with existing benchmark solutions. A parametric study is further conducted to systematically examine the effects of geometric parameters, boundary conditions, types of thermal loading, and thermo-mechanical coupling on the resulting thermal deformation and stress fields. Numerical results demonstrate that these parameters have a significant influence on the thermoelastic response of the plates.