CYLINDER MADE FROM BRITTLE MATERIAL AND SUBJECT TO

INTERNAL PRESSURE ONLY

STRESS DISTRIBUTION ACROSS THE CYLINDER WALL

The stresses in a cylinder subject to internal pressure only can be determined at two
locations in the cylinder wall namely, inner and outer surface of the cylinder wall. This is
illustrated in Fig. 1 below:

STRESSES AT INNER SURFACE OF CYLINDER

At this location the stresses induced are given by the expressions

1) Tangential stress σ ti = σ t =
[
pi a 2 + b 2 ]
b −a
2 2

a2
2) Longitudinal stress σ l = σ l = p i *
(b 2
− a2 )
3) Radial stress σ ri = σ r = − pi

STRESSES AT OUTER SURFACE OF CYLINDER

At this location the stresses induced are given by the expressions

2 pi a 2
1) Tangential stress σ to = σ t =
b2 − a2
a2
2) Longitudinal stress σ l = σ l = p i *
(b 2
− a2 )
3) Radial stress σ ro = σ r = 0
PRINCIPAL STRESSES AND PLANES

The stresses identified at inner and outer surface are principal stresses. This is because at
both surfaces, the applied load is a fluid pressure which is a normal load that gives rise to
normal stress. The normal stress arising out of pressure at both surfaces is therefore a
principal stress. The tangential and longitudinal directions are perpendicular to the radial
plane, and are therefore also principal planes; carrying principal stresses which are
therefore also maximum normal stresses on those planes.

LOCATION OF EXTREME STRESSES

The inner surface is then the location of extreme stresses where failure is expected to
occur. This is because

1) The tangential stress at inner surface σ ti = σ t =

[
pi a 2 + b 2 ] is greater than the
b −a 2 2
2
2 pi a
tangential stress at outer surface σ to = σ t =
b2 − a2
a2
2) The longitudinal stress σ l = σ l = p i *
(b 2
− a2 ) is the same value at both inner
and outer surface
3) The radial stress σ ri = σ r = − pi at inner surface is greater than the radial stress
σ ro = σ r = 0

CYLINDER FROM BRITTLE MATERIAL SUBJECT TO INTERNAL

PRESSURE

For a brittle material such as cast iron, the maximum normal stress theory of failure is
applied. This says:

When failure occurs in any material, the maximum normal stress at the point of failure
equals or exceeds the maximum normal stress when failure occurs in the tension test
specimen.

PRINCIPAL STRESSES AT THE POINT OF FAILURE

Maximum and min imum normal stresses are σ 1 , σ 2 , σ 3

where σ 1 f σ 2 f σ 3
In the case of cylinder subject to internal pressure only, the stresses are extreme at the
inner surface, and are given by

σ1 = σ t =
[
pi a 2 + b 2 ], σ = σ l = pi *
a2
b2 − a2
2
(b 2
− a2 ), σ 3 = σ r = − pi

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MAXIMUM NORMAL STRESS WHEN FAILURE OCCURS IN SIMPLE
TENSION SPECIMEN

When failure occurs in the simple tension specimen of a brittle material, the stress is
given by

σ 1 = S ut , Or σ 3 = S uc

Where

S ut = Ultimate tensile strength of the material

S uc = Ultimate compressive strength of the material

STRESS CAUSING FAILURE AT THE INSIDE SURFACE OF CYLINDER

At this location

Maximum and min imum normal stresses are σ 1 , σ 2 , σ 3

where σ 1 f σ 2 f σ 3

But σ 1 = σ t =
[
pi a 2 + b 2 ]
, and σ 3 = σ r = − pi
b2 − a2

The maximum normal stress at the location is tensile while the minimum normal stress is
compressive.

Failure could therefore be caused by either the maximum tensile stress, or the minimum
compressive stress.

However, the cast iron material has a compressive strength which is many times higher
than the tensile strength.

Failure will therefore be caused by the higher tensile stress acting on the lower tensile
strength of the material. Failure will therefore occur when

σ1 = σ t =
[
pi a 2 + b 2 ]= S ut
b2 − a2

Applying a factor of safety on the strength of the material

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Applying a factor of safety
S ut
σd = , where
f .s
σ d = Design stress for the chosen brittle material
f .s = Factor of safety
The design equation then becomes

σ1 =
[
pi a 2 + b 2
=σd
]
b2 − a2
[ ] ( )
pi a 2 + b 2 = σ d b 2 − a 2 ⇒ pi a 2 + pi b 2 = σ d b 2 − σ d a 2
b2 (σ + pi ) 2

b ( pi − σ d ) = − a (σ d + pi ) ⇒ 2 =− d
2 2 2

a ( pi − σ d )
b 2 (σ d + pi ) b (σ d + pi )
= ⇒ =
a 2
(σ d − pi ) a (σ d − pi )
Simplifying

b do
= where
a di
d o = External diameter of cylinder
d i = Internal diameter of cylinder
do (σ d + pi )
=
di (σ d − pi )
But d o = d i + 2t Where t = wall thickness of cylinder
d i + 2t (σ d + pi ) (σ d + pi ) (σ d + pi )
= ⇒ d i + 2t = d i ⇒ 2t = d i −d
di (σ d − pi ) (σ d − pi ) (σ d − pi ) i
di ⎛
⎜
(σ d + pi ) ⎞⎟
t= − 1 Lame' s equation for thick cylinder of brittle material
2 ⎜
⎝ (σ d − pi ) ⎟⎠

The above is Lame’s equation for the design of cylinder subject to internal pressure only
and made from brittle material

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 THICK AND THIN CYLINDER-BRITTLE MATERIAL
LAME'S EQUATION-WALL THICKNESS
Inside Internal Design LAME
Diameter Pressure Stress mm.
di pi σd (σ d − pi ) (σ d + pi ) (σ d + pi ) (σ d + pi ) ⎛
⎜
(σ d + pi ) ⎞
− 1⎟
d
t=
di ⎛
⎜
(σ d + pi ) ⎞
− 1⎟
mm Mpa Mpa (σ d − pi ) (σ d − pi ) ⎜
⎝ (σ d − pi ) ⎟
⎠ 2 2 ⎜
⎝ (σ d − pi ) ⎟
⎠
300 1 37.5 36.5 38.5 1.05 1.03 0.03 150 4.1
300 2 37.5 35.5 39.5 1.11 1.05 0.05 150 8.2
300 3 37.5 34.5 40.5 1.17 1.08 0.08 150 12.5
300 4 37.5 33.5 41.5 1.24 1.11 0.11 150 17.0
300 5 37.5 32.5 42.5 1.31 1.14 0.14 150 21.5
300 6 37.5 31.5 43.5 1.38 1.18 0.18 150 26.3
300 7 37.5 30.5 44.5 1.46 1.21 0.21 150 31.2
300 8 37.5 29.5 45.5 1.54 1.24 0.24 150 36.3
300 9 37.5 28.5 46.5 1.63 1.28 0.28 150 41.6
300 10 37.5 27.5 47.5 1.73 1.31 0.31 150 47.1
300 12 37.5 25.5 49.5 1.94 1.39 0.39 150 59.0
300 13 37.5 24.5 50.5 2.06 1.44 0.44 150 65.4
300 14 37.5 23.5 51.5 2.19 1.48 0.48 150 72.1
300 15 37.5 22.5 52.5 2.33 1.53 0.53 150 79.1
300 16 37.5 21.5 53.5 2.49 1.58 0.58 150 86.6
300 17 37.5 20.5 54.5 2.66 1.63 0.63 150 94.6
300 18 37.5 19.5 55.5 2.85 1.69 0.69 150 103.1
300 19 37.5 18.5 56.5 3.05 1.75 0.75 150 112.1
 THICK AND THIN CYLINDER-BRITTLE MATERIAL
LAME'S EQUATION-WALL THICKNESS
Inside Internal Design LAME
Diameter Pressure Stress mm.
di pi σd (σ d − pi ) (σ d + pi ) (σ d + pi ) (σ d + pi ) ⎛
⎜
(σ d + pi ) ⎞
− 1⎟
d
t=
di ⎛
⎜
(σ d + pi ) ⎞
− 1⎟
mm Mpa Mpa (σ d − pi ) (σ d − pi ) ⎜
⎝ (σ d − pi ) ⎟
⎠ 2 2 ⎜
⎝ (σ d − pi ) ⎟
⎠
600 1 37.5 36.5 38.5 1.05 1.03 0.03 300 8.1
600 2 37.5 35.5 39.5 1.11 1.05 0.05 300 16.5
600 3 37.5 34.5 40.5 1.17 1.08 0.08 300 25.0
600 4 37.5 33.5 41.5 1.24 1.11 0.11 300 33.9
600 5 37.5 32.5 42.5 1.31 1.14 0.14 300 43.1
600 6 37.5 31.5 43.5 1.38 1.18 0.18 300 52.5
600 7 37.5 30.5 44.5 1.46 1.21 0.21 300 62.4
600 8 37.5 29.5 45.5 1.54 1.24 0.24 300 72.6
600 9 37.5 28.5 46.5 1.63 1.28 0.28 300 83.2
600 10 37.5 27.5 47.5 1.73 1.31 0.31 300 94.3
600 12 37.5 25.5 49.5 1.94 1.39 0.39 300 118.0
600 13 37.5 24.5 50.5 2.06 1.44 0.44 300 130.7
600 14 37.5 23.5 51.5 2.19 1.48 0.48 300 144.1
600 15 37.5 22.5 52.5 2.33 1.53 0.53 300 158.3
600 16 37.5 21.5 53.5 2.49 1.58 0.58 300 173.2
600 17 37.5 20.5 54.5 2.66 1.63 0.63 300 189.2
600 18 37.5 19.5 55.5 2.85 1.69 0.69 300 206.1
600 19 37.5 18.5 56.5 3.05 1.75 0.75 300 224.3

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