Thin-walled Pressure Vessels

1. A cylindrical pressure vessel is fabricated from steel plating that has a thickness of 35 mm. The
diameter of the pressure vessel is 500 mm and its length is 2.5 m. Determine the maximum
internal pressure that can be applied if the longitudinal stress is limited to 145 MPa, and the
tangential stress is limited to 70 MPa.

GIVEN:
t = 35 mm
d = 500 mm
L = 2.5 m
P=?
L = 145 Mpa
t = 70 Mpa

SOLUTION:

Tangential:

t =
2

t (2t)
P=

70 (2)(35)
P= = 9.8 Mpa (answer)
500

Longitudinal:

L =
4

t (4t)
P=

145 (4)(35)
P= = 40.6 Mpa
500
2. A cylindrical steel pressure vessel 250 mm in diameter with a wall thickness of 15 mm, is
subjected to an internal pressure of 6.6 MN/mm2. Calculate the tangential and longitudinal
stresses in the steel.

SOLUTION:

Tangential Stress:

t =
2

6.6 (250)
=
(2)(15)

t = 55 Mpa (answer)

Longitudinal Stress:

L =
4

6.6 (250)
=
(4)(15)

L = 27.5 Mpa (answer)

3. Calculate the minimum wall thickness for a cylindrical vessel that is to carry a gas at a pressure
of 2000 psi. The diameter of the vessel is 1.5 ft, and the stress is limited to 11 ksi.

SOLUTION:

t =
2

t=
2t

2000(1.5)(12)
t = (2)(11)(1000) = 1.64 in. (answer)