Introduction

The hoop stress (i.e., the stress in the circumferential direction) is computed from s = pr/t. The axial
stress is computed from s = pr/2t.

Normal stresses in the cylinder wall

Using an inside radius of r = 1.8000 m, a wall thickness of t = 0.0200 m, and an internal pressure of
p = 833.00 kPa, the hoop stress in this cylinder is sh = pr/t = (833.00 kPa)(1.8000 m)/(0.0200 m) =
10,873.48 psi. The axial stress parallel to the longitudinal axis of the closed cylinder is sa = pr/2t =
(833.00 kPa)(1.8000 m)/(2 × 0.0200 m) = 5,436.74 psi.

The hoop and axial stresses are the in-plane principal stresses for the cylinder. The third principal
stress acts in a radial direction. On the outer surface of the cylinder, the (gage) pressure is zero;
consequently, the radial stress is sr = 0. On the inner surface, the radial stress is sr = -p, since the
pressure pushes on the inside surface. The magnitude of the radial stress is much smaller than the in-
plane stresses, and it is often ignored. If the radial stress is considered, a state of triaxial stress exists on
the inner surface of the cylinder, and sr = -p is the third principal stress. This non-zero principal stress
affects the magnitude of the absolute maximum shear stress.

Shear stresses in the cylinder wall

The absolute maximum shear stress on the outside surface of a closed cylindrical pressure vessel
occurs in an out-of-plane direction. This shear stress is given by tmax = pr/4t = (833.00 kPa)(1.8000
m)/(4 × 0.0200 m) = 2,718.37 psi. The maximum shear stress in the plane of the cylinder wall (in-plane
shear stress) is given by t = pr/4t = (833.00 kPa)(1.8000 m)/(4 × 0.0200 m) = 2,718.37 psi.

On the inside surface of a closed cylindrical pressure vessel, the absolute maximum shear stress must
account for the radial stress created directly by the pressure. The most positive principal stress is the
hoop stress, s1 = sh, and the most negative principal stress is the radial stress, s3 = sr = -p.
Therefore, the absolute maximum shear stress on the inside surface of the cylinder is tmax = (s1 – s3 ) /
2 = [10,873.48 psi – (–833.00 kPa)] = 5,497.15 psi.

Strains in the cylinder wall

The strains in the cylinder wall due to internal pressure pose an interesting situation. When we
design a pressure vessel, we usually speak in terms of gage pressure rather than absolute pressure. On
the outside of the cylinder, the gage pressure is zero. Since there is no pressure acting in the radial
direction, the normal stress in the radial direction on the outside surface of the cylinder wall is zero. The
stresses on the outside surface of the cylinder act entirely in the plane of the wall (that is, in the
circumferential and longitudinal directions); therefore, the wall is in a state of biaxial stress. We must
use Hooke's Law for biaxial stress to compute the normal strains. Using E = 200.000 GPa and n =
0.3000, the circumferential strain is eh = (1/E) (sh – nsa) = (1/200.000 GPa) (10,873.48 psi – 0.3000 ×
5,436.74 psi) = 318.62 m m/m, and the strain in the axial direction is ea = (1/E) (sa – nsh) =
(1/200.000 GPa) (5,436.74 psi – 0.3000 × 10,873.48 psi) = 74.97 m m/m. The strain in the radial
direction (caused by the Poisson effect) is er = –(n/E) (sa + sh) = –(0.3000/200.000 GPa) (5,436.74 psi
+ 10,873.48 psi) = -168.68 m m/m.

The internal pressure creates an equal compression stress in the radial direction on the inner surface
of the cylinder (i.e., sr = –p). Since there are normal stresses in three direction on the inside surface of
the cylinder (longitudinal, circumferential, and radial directions), the wall is subjected to a state of triaxial
stress. We must use Hooke's Law for triaxial stress to compute the normal strains. Using E = 200.000
GPa and n= 0.3000, the circumferential strain is eh = (1/E) [sh – n(sa – p)] = (1/200.000 GPa)
[10,873.48 psi – 0.3000 (5,436.74 psi – 833.00 kPa)] = 319.87 m m/m, and the strain in the axial
direction is ea = (1/E) [sa – n(sh – p)] = (1/200.000 GPa) [5,436.74 psi – 0.3000 (10,873.48 psi –
833.00 kPa)] = 76.22 m m/m. The strain in the radial direction (caused by the Poisson effect) is er =
(1/E) [sr – n(sa + sh)] = (1/200.000 GPa) [–833.00 kPa – 0.3000 (5,436.74 psi + 10,873.48 psi)] = -
172.85 m m/m. Note that the difference between the strains on the outer and inner surfaces is relatively
small, and this difference gets smaller as the ratio of inside radius to wall thickness (r/t) gets larger.
Because of this, the effect of pressure on the inside surface of the cylinder is sometimes neglected when
computing strains in the cylinder.

Stresses on a weld
The normal and shear stresses acting perpendicular to the specified welded joint (that is, in the n-
direction) are sn = 7,225.37 psi and tnt = 2,554.43 psi (CW on the n face), respectively. The normal and
shear stresses acting parallel to the specified welded joint (i.e., in the t-direction) are st = 9,084.85 psi
and ttn = 2,554.43 psi (CCW on the t face), respectively.

Force transmitted across a seam

With an internal pressure of p = 833.00 kPa, a distributed force of (10,873.48 psi)(0.0200 m) =
102,741.54 lb/ft acts across a longitudinal seam, and a distributed force of (5,436.74 psi)(0.0200 m) =
51,370.77 lb/ft acts across a circumferential seam.
Mohar circle

Maximum shear stress theory

Maximum distortion energy theory