An　experimental　study　is　performed　to　investigate　the　transient　thermal　stress　distribution　of　an　aluminium　alloy　tank　during　cryogenic　fluid　filling　processes.　Three　different　filling　procedures　are　adopted　with　liquid　nitrogen　being　fed　into　the　tank　from　the　top　axial　nozzle,　the　bottom　axial　nozzle,　and　the　top　lateral　sprayer,　respectively.　The　transient　temperatures　and　thermal　strains　are　measured,　and　the　local　thermal　stresses　are　calculated.　The　results　indicate　that　fluid　filling　from　top　axial　nozzle　leads　to　the　most　uniform　temperature　distribution　and　the　lowest　transient　thermal　stress　in　the　tank　wall.　Filling　from　bottom　axial　nozzle　produces　similar　but　much　steeper　cooling　curves　and　higher　transient　thermal　stresses.　However,　filling　from　top　lateral　sprayer　generates　a　quite　different　temperature　distribution　and　meanwhile,　the　highest　level　of　thermal　stress.　Moreover,　the　cooling　curves　become　more　uneven　as　the　feeding　rate　increases,　resulting　in　higher　transient　thermal　stresses.　©　2017　International　Institute　of　Refrigeration.　All　rights　reserved.