CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

Thin-Walled Pressure Vessels

CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

Thin-Walled Pressure Vessels

A tank or pipe carrying a fluid or gas under a pressure is subjected to
tensile forces, which resist bursting, developed across longitudinal
and transverse sections.
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

TANGENTIAL STRESS (Circumferential Stress)

Consider the tank shown being

subjected to an internal pressure
p. The length of the tank is L and
the wall thickness is t. Isolating
the right half of the tank:
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

The forces acting are the total pressures caused by the internal
pressure p and the total tension in the walls T.

𝐹 = 𝑝𝐴 = 𝑝𝐷𝐿
𝑇 = 𝜎𝑡 𝐴𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 𝜎𝑡 𝑡𝐿

𝐹𝐻 = 0
𝐹 = 2𝑇
𝑝𝐷𝐿 = 2𝜎𝑡 𝑡𝐿 𝑝𝐷
𝜎𝑡 =
2𝑡
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

If there exist an external pressure 𝑝𝑜 and an internal pressure 𝑝𝑖 ,

the formula may be expressed as:

(𝑝𝑖 −𝑝𝑜 )𝐷
𝜎𝑡 =
2𝑡
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

LONGITUDINAL STRESS, 𝜎𝐿

Consider the free body diagram in the transverse section of the tank
shown.

The total force acting at the rear of the

tank F must equal to the total
longitudinal stress on the wall 𝑃𝑇 = 𝜎𝐿
𝐴𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 . Since t is so small compared to D,
the area of the wall is close to  Dt
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

 2
𝐹 = 𝑝𝐴 = 𝑝 𝐷
4
𝑃𝑇 = 𝜎𝐿 𝐷 𝑡

𝐹𝐻 = 0

𝑃𝑇 = 𝐹
 2 𝑝𝐷
𝜎𝐿 𝐷 𝑡 = 𝑝 𝐷 𝜎𝐿 =
4 4𝑡
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

If there exist an external pressure 𝑝𝑜 and an internal pressure 𝑝𝑖 ,

the formula may be expressed as:

(𝑝𝑖 −𝑝𝑜 )𝐷
𝜎𝐿 =
4𝑡

It can be observed that the tangential stress is twice that of the

longitudinal stress.

𝜎𝑡 = 2𝜎𝐿
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

SPHERICAL SHELL
If a spherical tank of diameter D and thickness t contains gas
under a pressure of p, the stress at the wall can be expressed as:

(𝑝𝑖 −𝑝𝑜 )𝐷
𝜎𝐿 =
4𝑡
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

A cylindrical steel pressure vessel 400 mm in diameter with a wall

thickness of 20 mm, is subjected to an internal pressure of 4.5
MN/ 𝑚2 .
(a) Calculate the tangential and longitudinal stresses in the steel.
(b) To what value may the internal pressure be increased if the
stress in the steel is limited to 120 MN/ 𝑚2 ?
(c) If the internal pressure were increased until the vessel burst,
sketch the type of fracture that would occur.
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

a. Tangential stress (Longitudinal section)

𝐹𝐻 = 0
𝐹 = 2𝑇
𝑝𝐷𝐿 = 2𝜎𝑡 𝑡𝐿

𝑝𝐷 (4.5)(400)
𝜎𝑡 = =
2𝑡 2(20)
𝜎𝑡 = 45𝑀𝑃𝑎
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

Longitudinal stress (Transverse section)

𝐹𝐻 = 0

𝑃𝑇 = 𝐹
 2
𝜎𝐿 𝐷 𝑡 = 𝑝 𝐷
4
𝑝𝐷 4.5 (400)
𝜎𝐿 = = = 22.5𝑀𝑃𝑎
4𝑡 4(20)
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

Part b:
𝑝𝐷 𝑝𝐷
From (a), 𝜎𝑡 = 2𝑡
and 𝜎𝐿 = 4𝑡
, thus 𝜎𝑡 = 2𝜎𝐿 , this shows that tangential
stress is critical

𝑝𝐷
𝜎𝑡 = 2𝑡

𝑝(400)
120 =
2(20)

𝑝 = 12𝑀𝑃𝑎
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

Part c:
The bursting force will cause a stress on the longitudinal section that
is twice to that of the transverse section. Thus, fracture is expected as
shown
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

The wall thickness of a 4-ft-diameter spherical tank is 5/16 inch.

Calculate the allowable internal pressure if the stress is limited to
8000 psi.
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

Total internal pressure:

 2
𝑃=𝑝 𝐷
4
Resisting wall:

𝐹=𝑃 𝑝𝐷
𝜎=
 2 4𝑡
𝜎𝐴 = 𝑝 𝐷
4
𝑝(4 𝑥 12)
 2 8000 = = 208.33𝑝𝑠𝑖
𝜎𝐷 𝑡 = 𝑝 𝐷 5
4 4 16
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

Calculate the minimum wall thickness for a cylindrical vessel that

is to carry a gas at a pressure of 1400 psi. The diameter of the
vessel is 2 ft, and the stress is limited to 12 ksi.

The critical stress is the tangential stress.

𝑝𝐷
𝜎𝑡 =
2𝑡
1400(2 𝑥 12)
12000 =
2𝑡
𝑡 = 1.4𝑖𝑛.
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

A cylindrical pressure vessel is fabricated from steel plating that has a

thickness of 20 mm. The diameter of the pressure vessel is 450 mm and
its length is 2.0 m. Determine the maximum internal pressure that can
be applied if the longitudinal stress is limited to 140 MPa, and the
circumferential stress is limited to 60 MPa.
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

Based on circumferential stress (tangential):

𝐹𝑉 = 0
𝐹 = 2T
𝑝 𝐷𝐿 = 2 (𝜎𝑡 𝐿𝑡 )
𝑝𝐷
𝜎𝑡 =
2𝑡
𝑝(450)
60 =
2(20)
𝑝 = 5.33𝑀𝑃𝑎
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

Based on longitudinal stress : 𝐹𝐻 = 0

𝐹=P
 2
𝑝 𝐷 = 𝜎𝐿 𝐷𝑡
4
𝑝𝐷
𝜎𝐿 =
4𝑡
𝑝(450)
140 =
4(20)
𝑝 = 24.89𝑀𝑃𝑎
Use 𝑝 = 5.33𝑀𝑃𝑎
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

A water tank, 22 ft in diameter, is made from steel plates that are

1/2 in. thick. Find the maximum height to which the tank may
be filled if the circumferential stress is limited to 6000 psi. The
specific weight of water is 62.4 lb/ft3.

𝜎𝑡 = 6000𝑝𝑠𝑖 = 6000𝑙𝑏/𝑖𝑛2 12𝑖𝑛/𝑓𝑡 2

𝜎𝑡 = 864000 𝑙𝑏/𝑓𝑡 2
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

Assuming pressure distribution to be uniform:

𝑝 = 𝛾ℎ = 62.4ℎ

𝐹 = 𝑝𝐴 = 62.4ℎ (𝐷ℎ)

𝐹 = 62.4 22 ℎ2

𝐹 = 1372.8ℎ2
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

𝑇 = 𝜎𝑡 𝐴𝑡 = 864000 (𝑡ℎ) 𝐹𝐻 = 0

1 1 𝐹 = 2T
𝑇 = 864000 𝑥 ℎ
2 12
1372.8ℎ2 = 2(36000ℎ)
𝑇 = 36000ℎ
ℎ = 52.45𝑓𝑡
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

COMMENT
Given a free surface of water, the actual pressure distribution on
the vessel is not uniform. It varies linearly from zero at the free
surface to γh at the bottom (see figure below). Using this actual
pressure distribution, the total hydrostatic pressure is reduced
by 50%. This reduction of force will take our design into critical
situation; giving us a maximum height of 200% more than the h
above.
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

Based on actual pressure distribution:

Total hydrostatic force, F:

F= volume of pressure diagram

1 1
𝐹 = (𝛾ℎ ) 𝐷 = 62.4ℎ2 (22)
2
2 2
𝐹 = 686.4ℎ2
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

𝑀𝐴 = 0 1 1
3𝜎𝑡 𝑡 3(864000) 𝑥 12
ℎ= = 2
1 1
2T ℎ−𝐹 ℎ=0 686.4 686.4
2 3
ℎ = 157.34𝑓𝑡
1
T= 𝐹
3
1
𝜎𝑡 ℎ𝑡 = (686.4ℎ2 )
3
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

The strength of longitudinal joint in

Fig. 1-17 is 33 kips/ft, whereas for
the girth is 16 kips/ft. Calculate the
maximum diameter of the cylinder
tank if the internal pressure is 150
psi.
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

For longitudinal joint (tangential stress):

Consider 1 ft length

𝐹𝑉 = 0 33000 21600𝐷

=
𝐹 = 2T 𝑡 2𝑡
𝑝𝐷 = 2𝜎𝑡 𝑡
𝐷 = 3.06𝑓𝑡 = 36.67𝑖𝑛
𝑝𝐷
𝜎𝑡 =
2𝑡
CE 234 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

For girth joint (longitudinal stress):

𝐹𝐻 = 0 16000 21600𝐷

=
𝐹=P 𝑡 4𝑡
 2
𝑝 𝐷 = 𝜎𝐿 𝐷𝑡
4 𝐷 = 2.96𝑓𝑡 = 35.56𝑖𝑛
𝑝𝐷
𝜎𝐿 =
4𝑡

𝑈𝑠𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟, 𝐷 = 35.56𝑖𝑛