THIN CYLINDERS

Vessels such as boilers, air receivers are cylindrical or spherical in shape.

They are usually used to store fluids ( liquid or gas) under pressure. When
they are empty the only force acting inside and outside the pressure
vessel is atmospheric pressure. When they are filled, the inside of vessel
will be subjected to internal pressure exerted by the fluid , due to this
internal stress will be developed on the vessel which will be tensile in
nature. The walls of such vessels are thin compared to diameter.

If the thickness of wall of the pressure vessel (cylindrical vessel) is less

than 1/15 to 1/20 of the diameter of the pressure vessel, then the
cylinder is called thin cylinder.
 PRESSURE VESSEL

Fluid Pressure inside pressure vessel

PRESSURE VESSEL
FAILURE OF THIN CYLINDERS DUE TO INTERNAL PRESSURE

It may be split in to two troughs (Hoop stress exceed )

It may be split in to two cylinders ( Longitudinal stress exceed)
 STRESSES IN A THIN CYLINDRICAL VESSELS DUE TO AN
INTERNAL PRESSURE
When a thin cylindrical vessel is subjected to
internal fluid pressure, the stresses in the wall of
the cylinder on the cross section along the axis and
on the cross section perpendicular to the axis are
set up . These stresses are tensile and are known as
1. Circumferential stress or Hoop stress : The stress
Hoop Stress
that is acting along the circumference of the
cylinder ( vessel) is called circumferential
stress/hoop stress.
2. Longitudinal stress : The stress that is acting
along the axis/length (Longitudinal direction) of the
cylinder (vessel) is called Longitudinal stress.
Longitudinal Stress
 CIRCUMFERENTIAL OR HOOP STRESS
Let p = Internal pressure of the fluid
d = Diameter of the Cylinder
t = Thickness of wall of the cylinder
l = Length of the cylinder
σh = Hoop stress or Circumferential stress.
Force due to fluid pressure (bursting force) = Pressure intensity of fluid x Area on
which the pressure is acting
Force due to fluid pressure (bursting force) = p x d x l ……..(i)
Force due to Circumferential stress (resisting force) = Hoop stress x Area on which
the stress is acting
Force due to Circumferential stress (resisting force) = σh x 2 x t x l …….(ii)
Equating (i) and (ii)
P x d x l = σh x 2 x t x l
Hoop stress, σh = P x d / ( 2 x t )
 LONGITUDINAL STRESS
Let p = Internal pressure of the fluid
d = Diameter of the Cylinder
t = Thickness of wall of the cylinder
l = Length of the cylinder
σl = Longitudinal stress.
Force due to fluid pressure (bursting force) = Pressure intensity of fluid x Area on
which the pressure is acting
Force due to fluid pressure (bursting force) = ( p x π x d x d )/ 4 ……..(i)
Force due to Longitudinal stress (resisting force) = Longitudinal stress x Area on
which the stress is acting
Force due to Longitudinal stress (resisting force) = σl x π x d x t …….(ii)
Equating (i) and (ii)
( p x π x d x d )/ 4 = σl x π x d x t
Longitudinal stress, σl = P x d / ( 4 x t )
 HOOP STRESS & LONGITUDINAL STRESS FOR
CYLINDRICAL VESSEL
Longitudinal stress, σl = P x d / ( 4 x t ) = (½) x (P x d / ( 2 x t ) ) = (½) x σh
Longitudinal stress, σl = (½) x hoop stress
Longitudinal stress is half of hoop stress ( circumferential stress)
The maximum permissible stress in the material should be taken as hoop or
circumferential stress.
 MAXIMUM SHEAR STRESS τmax
The stress acting at any point in the material of the cylindrical shell, there are
two principle stresses, namely circumferential stress or hoop stress acting
circumferentially and longitudinal stress acting parallel to the axis of the shell.
These stresses are tensile and perpendicular to each other and contribute
shear stress.
Maximum shear stress, τmax = (σh – σl ) / 2 = p x d / (8 x t )
 EFFICIENCY OF A JOINT
The cylindrical shells such as boilers are having two types of joints namely longitudinal
joint and circumferential joint. In case of a joint holes are made in the material of the
shell for rivets. Due to the holes, the area offering resistance decreases. Due to the
decrease in area, the stress(which is equal to the force divided by the area) developed
in the material of the shell will be more.
Hence in the case of a riveted shell the circumferential and longitudinal stresses are
greater than what are given by the equations. If the efficiency of a longitudinal joint and
circumferential joint are given, then the circumferential and longitudinal stresses are
obtained as
Let ηl = Efficiency of longitudinal joint.
ηh = Efficiency of hoop or circumferential joint.
 DESIGN OF THIN CYLINDRICAL SHELLS
It means to calculate the thickness of a cylindrical shell for the given length,
diameters and intensity of maximum internal pressure.

where 't' is the required thickness of the shell. If the thickness so obtained is
not a rounded figure, the next higher value is provided .
 PROBLEMS
1. Calculate the maximum wall thickness of a thin cylinder 1 m in diameter if
subjected to an internal pressure of 2N/mm2. The hoop stress should not exceed
40N/mm2, and the longitudinal stress not to exceed 30N/mm2.
2. A seamless pipe 800 mm diameter contains a fluid under a pressure of
2N/mm2.If the permissible stress be 100N/mm2. Find the minimum thickness of
the pipe.
3. A boiler shell is to be made of 15 mm thick plate, having limiting tensile
stress of 120N/mm2. If the efficiency of the joint is 70% .Determine the diameter
for an internal pressure of 2N/mm2. (7)
4. A cast iron pipe is used to carry water under pressure. The pipe 200 mm in
internal diameter and 10mm thick Find the allowable pressure of water in Pascal
if tensile stress in cast iron is limited to 20N/mm2 .
5. A water main 500 mm diameter is containing water at a pressure head of
75m if the weight of the water is 9810N/m3. Find the thickness of the metal
required for the water main. The permissible value of stress is 20 N/mm2. (6)
 PROBLEMS
6. A boiler shell is to be made of 12mm thick plate having limiting tensile
stress of 100N/mm2 . If the efficiencies of longitudinal and circumferential
joints are 75% and 35 % respectively, determine the maximum permissible
diameter of the shell to withstand a steam pressure of 1.2 N/mm2. (10)
7. A boiler shell is to be made of 10mm thick plate having limiting tensile
stress of 105 N/mm2 If the efficiencies of longitudinal and circumferential
joints are 70% and 30 % respectively, determine the permissible intensity of
internal pressure when the shell diameter is 1.3 m.
8.
 PROBLEMS
9.

10. 1
 ANSWER FOR PROBLEMS
1. 25 mm, 16.67 mm . Final 25 mm
2. 8 mm
3. 1260 mm
4. 2 x 106 Pascal
5. 10 mm
6. 1500mm, 1400mm, final 1400 mm
7. 1.13 N/mm2 , 0.969 N/mm2 , final 0.969 N/mm2
8. 25.33 N/mm2
9. 0.9333 N/mm2 , 1.066 N/mm2 . So maximum possible is 0.9333 N/mm2
10. 11.25 mm rounded of the higher value 12 mm