EMQ 3141: Solids and Structural Mechanics I

THIN-WALLED PRESSURE VESSELS

In our analysis, we are going to deal with

(a) cylindrical pressure vessels
(b) spherical pressure vessels
Whose diameter to thickness ratio is greater 50.
𝐷
i.e. > 50 : D = diameter and t= thickness
𝑡

Now consider an element A in the pressure vessel. The stresses on the element are
𝜎ℎ and 𝜎𝑎

𝜎ℎ = hoop stress or tangential stress and

𝜎𝑎 = axial stress or longitudinal stress
The pressure acting on the long sides of the cylinder give rise to circumferential stress 𝜎ℎ
and the pressure acting on the ends give rise to longitudinal (axial) stress 𝜎𝑎 in the wall.
Since the shell is thin walled, the radial stress 𝜎𝑟 is negligible.
Suppose 𝑟 is the mean radius and 𝑡 is the thickness of the wall.
Now consider a unit length of the shell remote from the ends. Suppose we cut this length
with diametrical plane. The tensile stresses acting on the cut section are 𝜎ℎ circumferentially
and 𝜎𝑎 acting longitudinally.

There is an internal pressure 𝑝 on the inside of the shell.

Consider equilibrium of the half shell in the plane ꓕ𝑎𝑟 to the axis of the cylinder.

Total force due to the internal pressure 𝑝 in the directional OA is

𝑝. 2𝑟. 1 = 2𝑝𝑟
This is opposed by the 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑠 due to the stress 𝜎ℎ equal to
𝜎ℎ . 2𝑡. 1 = 2𝜎ℎ . 𝑡
For equilibrium of the element, these two forces must be equal.
i.e. 2𝑝𝑟 = 2𝜎ℎ . 𝑡
𝑝𝑟 𝑝𝐷
𝜎ℎ = . Or 𝜎ℎ =
𝑡 2𝑡

Now consider any transverse cross-section of the cylinder remote from the ends.

Total force on each closed end due the internal pressure 𝑝 = 𝑝. 𝜋𝑟 2.

Internal force due to the axial stress 𝜎𝑎 = 𝜎𝑎 . 2𝜋𝑟. 𝑡.
Therefore, for equilibrium of the cylinder axially,
𝑝. 𝜋𝑟 2 = 𝜎𝑎 . 2𝜋𝑟. 𝑡
𝑝𝑟 𝑝𝐷
𝜎𝑎 = or 𝜎𝑎 =
2𝑡 4𝑡

Hence 𝜎ℎ = 2𝜎𝑎 . Thus, the longitudinal stress is only one half of the circumferential stress.
The state of stress of the cylinder thus approximates to 𝑇𝑤𝑜 𝐷𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠
𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑠 𝜎1 = 𝜎ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜎2 = 𝜎𝑎 .

Circumferential and Longitudinal Strains

The stresses 𝜎ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜎𝑎 are accompanied by direct strains. If the material of the cylinder is
elastic, then the corresponding strains are

𝜎ℎ 𝜐(𝜎𝑎 ) 1
𝜀ℎ = − = 𝐸 (𝜎ℎ − 𝜐𝜎𝑎 )
𝐸 𝐸
𝑝𝐷 𝜐
𝜀ℎ = (1 − 2) and
2𝐸𝑡

𝜎𝑎 𝜐(𝜎ℎ ) 1
𝜀𝑎 = − = 𝐸 (𝜎𝑎 − 𝜐𝜎ℎ )
𝐸 𝐸
𝑝𝐷 1
𝜀𝑎 = ( − 𝜐)
2𝐸𝑡 2

Volumetric Strains
Increase in circumference = 2𝜋𝑟. 𝜀ℎ
Increase in mean diameter = 𝐷. 𝜀ℎ
Increase in length = 𝑙. 𝜀𝑎
Original volume of the cylinder, 𝑉0 = 𝜋𝑟 2 . 𝑙
Final volume of cylinder, 𝑉 = 𝜋(𝑟 + 𝑟. 𝜀ℎ )2 . (𝑙 + 𝑙. 𝜀𝑎 )

= 𝜋𝑙(𝑟 2 + 2𝑟 2 𝜀ℎ + 𝑟 2 𝜀ℎ 2 ). (1 + 𝜀𝑎 )
Neglecting products and powers of 𝜀𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜀ℎ ,
 V= 𝜋𝑟 2 𝑙(1 + 2𝜀ℎ + 𝜀𝑎 )
Change of volume , ∆𝑉 = 𝑉 − 𝑉0 = 𝜋𝑟 2 𝑙(1 + 2𝜀ℎ + 𝜀𝑎 ) − 𝜋𝑟 2 𝑙 = 𝜋𝑟 2 𝑙(2𝜀ℎ + 𝜀𝑎 )
∆𝑉 𝜋𝑟 2 𝑙(2𝜀ℎ +𝜀𝑎 )
Volumetric strain = = = 2𝜀ℎ + 𝜀𝑎
𝑉0 𝜋𝑟 2 𝑙

∆𝑉
= 2𝜀ℎ + 𝜀𝑎
𝑉0
In terms of 𝑝, 𝐸 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡 (𝑖. 𝑒. 𝜎ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜎𝑎 ).
∆𝑉 𝑝𝐷 𝜐 𝑝𝐷 1
= 2. (1 − ) + ( − 𝜐)
𝑉0 2𝐸𝑡 2 2𝐸𝑡 2
∆𝑉 𝑝𝐷 1
= [2 − 𝜐 + − 𝜐]
𝑉0 2𝐸𝑡 2
∆𝑉 𝑝𝐷 5
= ( − 2𝜐)
𝑉0 2𝐸𝑡 2

Thin-walled spherical Vessels.

Let us consider a thin-walled spherical vessel of mean radius 𝑟 and thickness 𝑡, subjected to
internal pressure 𝑝.

Consider any elemental plane through the shell. The total force normal to this plane due to
𝑝 acting on the hemisphere

= 𝑝𝜋𝑟 2

This force is opposed by the tensile stress σ in the walls of the shell.

‫؞‬ 𝑝𝜋𝑟 2 = σ. 2𝜋𝑟. 𝑡

pD
Hence σ= .
4t
If the shell remains elastic, the diametrical strain in any direction is
𝜎 𝜐𝜎 𝜎 pD
𝜀= − = 𝐸 (1 − 𝜐)= 4tE (1 − 𝜐)
𝐸 𝐸

Similarly, volumetric strain

∆𝑉 3𝑝𝐷
= 2𝜀 + 𝜀 = 3 𝜀 = 4𝐸𝑡 (1 − 𝜐)
𝑉0

Cylindrical steel with hemispherical ends.

Some vessels are fabricated with hemispherical ends, which have an advantage of reducing
the bending stresses in the cylinder as opposed to flat ends.

Let the thickness of the cylindrical portion be 𝑡𝑐 and that of the spherical portion be 𝑡𝑠 . 𝑡𝑐
and 𝑡𝑠 are proportional such that the 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒, in this way the bending stresses are eliminated at the junctions of
the two parts. Thus, no distortion occurs.
𝑝𝑟 𝜐
Hoop strain in the cylinder 𝜀𝜃𝑐 = (1 − 2)
𝐸𝑡𝑐
𝑝𝑟
Hoop strain in the hemisphere at the junction 𝜀𝜃𝑠 = (1 − 𝜐)
2𝐸𝑡𝑠

If the strains are equal, then

𝑝𝑟 𝜐 𝑝𝑟
𝜀𝜃𝑐 = (1 − 2) = 𝜀𝜃𝑠 = (1 − 𝜐)
𝐸𝑡𝑐 2𝐸𝑡𝑠

𝑡𝑐 2−𝜐
Thus, =
𝑡𝑠 1−𝜐

For most metals, 𝜐 is approximately 0.3, so the average value of

𝑡𝑐 2−0.3 1.7
= = 0.7 ≅ 2.429
𝑡𝑠 1−0.3

𝑡𝑐
≅ 2.43
𝑡𝑠
Example
A thin cylindrical pressure vessel is subjected to internal pressure, 𝑝. If the ends are being
closed by
(a) two watertight pistons attached to a common piston rod.
(b) flanged ends.
Find the increase in internal diameter in each case, given that the cylindrical internal
diameter is 200 mm, thickness is 5 mm, Poisson’s ratio 𝜐 = 0.3 and Youngs Modulus E is
200GPa and 𝑝 = 3.5 𝑀𝑃𝑎.
Solution:
Volumetric Strain in a material under Hydrostatic pressure.
Consider a material under the action of compressive (hydrostatic) pressure, 𝑝, in the three
mutually perpendicular directions. The material is subjected to the same stress as if it were
immersed in a fluid at a considerable depth.

Original volume = 𝑉𝑜
New volume = 𝑉
Change in volume = 𝛿𝑉 = 𝑉- 𝑉𝑜
𝛿𝑉 𝑉− 𝑉𝑜
Volumetric strain is =
𝑉𝑜 𝑉𝑜
𝑝
Bulk Modulus is defined as 𝛿𝑉 =K
( )
𝑉𝑜

If the material remains elastic under, 𝑝, the strain in each of the three directions is
−𝑝 𝑝 𝑝 𝑝
𝜀= − 𝜐 ( 𝐸) − 𝜐 (𝐸 ) = (2 𝜐 − 1)
𝐸 𝐸

For a material of unit dimensions in unstrained conditions, volume of strained cube

𝑉 = ( 1 − 𝜀)3. For small strains, powers and products of 𝜀 can be neglected. Thus, giving the
final volume 𝑉 as
𝑉 = (1 − 3𝜀)
Original volume 𝑉𝑜 = 1,
Hence change in volume, 𝛿𝑉 = 𝑉- 𝑉𝑜 = 3𝜀
𝑝 𝑝 𝐸
Therefore K = 𝛿𝑉 = = 3(1−2𝜐)
( ) −3𝜀
𝑉𝑜

𝐸
𝐾= 3(1−2𝜐)

Example
A thin spherical shell of internal diameter 300 mm wall thickness 1.5 mm is just full of water
at atmospheric pressure. Find how much more internal pressure will increase if 10𝑥10−6 𝑚3
of water is pumped in. Take E = 100 GPa, 𝜐 = 0.3 for copper. The compressibility of water
can be expressed by the Bulk Modulus K = 2.2 GPa to permit estimation of change in volume
of water due to the increase in internal pressure.