Thermal　instability　has　severely　limited　the　wide　application　of　the　lithium　ion　batteries.　In　this　work,　a　thermo-mechanical　coupling　model　of　cylinder　lithium-ion　batteries　(LIBs)　with　the　thermal　radiance　effect　is　developed　in　generalized　plane　strain　condition,　which　is　two-way　coupling.　Then,　taking　18　650　LIBs　as　the　object,　some　numerical　calculations　are　implemented　to　discuss　the　impacts　of　initial　temperature,　discharge　current,　heat　convection　coefficient,　thermal　emissivity　and　internal　resistance　upon　the　distributions　of　temperature,　radial　and　hoop　stresses　during　charge　or　discharge.　Numerical　results　show　that　the　maximum　temperature　in　LIBs　will　decrease　when　the　initial　temperature,　discharge　current,　and　internal　resistance　decrease　or　heat　convection　coefficient　and　the　thermal　emissivity　increase.　Finally,　two　comparisons　are　made　to　indicate　that　(1)　the　temperature　in　the　coupled　model　is　lower　than　that　in　the　thermal　model　and　(2)　the　thermal　radiation　effect　plays　a　vital　role　in　the　temperature　and　stresses,　and　it　can　effectively　reduce　the　temperature.　©　2020　John　Wiley　&　Sons　Ltd