AMOS LECTURE-16

COMPOUND CYLINDER

In thick walled cylinders subjected to internal pressure only, it can be seen from the equation of the
hoop stress/circumferential stress (“ ”)that the maximum stresses occur at the inside radius and this
can be given by:

= +

This means that as increases may exceed yield stress even when < . Furthermore, it can
be shown that for large internal pressures in thick walled cylinders the wall thickness is required to be
very large. This is shown schematically in figure.

Figure: Variation of wall thickness with the internal pressure in thick cylinder

This means that the material near the outer edge of the cylinder is not effectively used since
the stresses near the outer edge gradually reduce.

In order to make thick-walled cylinders that resist elastically large internal pressure and make
effective use of material at the outer portion of the cylinder the following method of prestressing
can be used:

• Shrinking a hollow cylinder over the main cylinder. (Compound cylinders)

A compound (or composite) cylinders is made by two or more cylinders which are assembled with an
interference fit. An outer cylinder (jacket) with the internal diameter slightly smaller than the outer
diameter of the main cylinder is heated and fitted onto the main cylinder. When the assembly cools
down to room temperature, a compound cylinder is obtained. In this process the main cylinder is
subjected to an external pressure leading to radial compressive stresses at the interface (ps) as shown
in figure.

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AMOS LECTURE-16

The outer cylinder is subjected to an internal pressure leading to tensile circumferential stresses at the
interface (ps) as shown in figure. Under these conditions as the internal pressure increases, the
compression in the internal cylinder is first released and then only the cylinder begins to act in tension.
Hence the pressure carrying capacity of the cylinder increases.

ANALYSIS OF COMPOUND CYLINDER

The analysis of compound cylinder can be made by adopting following methods:-

a. Determination of stresses developed in cylinders (inner cylinder & outer cylinder) due to
shrinkage pressure at interface only (in absence of any fluid pressure).
b. Determination of stresses developed in cylinders (inner cylinder & outer cylinder) due to fluid
pressure only.(considering the compound cylinder as one single cylinder subjected to internal
pressure only)
c. Determination of resultant stresses in all cylinders considering stresses in above two.
Nomenclature:-

The first suffix represents the surface & second suffix represents the cylinder

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AMOS LECTURE-16
=

= ℎ

= ℎ

= ℎ

= ℎ

= ℎ ℎ

( ) =

( ) =

( ) =

( ) =

( ) = ℎ

( ) = ℎ

( ) = ℎ

( ) = ℎ

Note:- = =

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AMOS LECTURE-16

Consider case (a) :- The cylinders are subjected to shrinkage pressure at interface only

The inner cylinder subjected to outer pressure " "

We know that

" " = − & " " = +

= , = = =

& = , = =

&

= × = ×
− −

On putting the value of &

= , = = +

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AMOS LECTURE-16
& = , = = +

The outer cylinder subjected to inner pressure " "

We know that

" " = − & " " = +

= , = =

& = , = = =

&

= × = ×
− −

On putting the value of &

= , = = +

& = , = = +

Inner cylinder Value Nature Outer Cylinder Value Nature

0
0
calculated calculated
calculated calculated

Consider case (b) :- The compound cylinders is considered as a single cylinder and subjected to
internal fluid pressure “pf” only

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AMOS LECTURE-16

The cylinder subjected to internal fluid pressure " "

We know that

" ′ " = − & " ′ " = +

= , = ′ =

& = , = ′ =

&

= × = ×
− −

On putting the value of &

= = = ′ = ′ = − = − = −

= , = ′ = +

& = , = ′ = +

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AMOS LECTURE-16
= , = ′ = +

= , = ′ = +

Inner cylinder Value Nature Outer Cylinder Value Nature

′ ′ calculated
′ calculated ′ 0
′ calculated ′ calculated
′ calculated ′ calculated
c. Determination of resultant stresses in all cylinders considering stresses in above two.

Due to Shrinkage Due to internal fluid Resultant stresses

pressure ( ) = ± ′
Inner cylinder ( ) = ± ′
Inner Value Nature Inner Value Nature Resultant Value Nature
cylinder cylinder stress
′ ( )
′ ( )
′ ( )
′ ( )
Outer cylinder
Outer Value Nature Outer Value Nature Resultant Value Nature
cylinder cylinder stress
′ ( )
′ ( )
′ ( )
′ ( )

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