EXPERIMENT 5

THIN CYLINDER

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this experiment, students should be able to get an appreciation of:
i. A biaxial stress system
ii. The use of strain gauges
iii. Young’s Modulus
iv. Poisson’s ratio

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The analysis of the stress distribution in a thin walled cylinder is of considerable

importance in pressure vessels and gun barrels. Strain gauges mounted on
various radius and at different alignments throughout the cylinder wall provide the
measurement of the strains. Thus stress distribution throughout the wall of a
cylinder subjected to an internal pressure could be analyzed.

1.2 THEORY

Consider a thin cylinder of plate thickness t, mean diameter d and length l,

subjected to internal pressure p. Now consider that the cylinder is sectioned by
the x-plane of symmetry and by the two z-planes (of distance z apart) as shown
in Figure 1.

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 Figure 1

Consider the equilibrium of forces in the x-direction acting on the sectioned

cylinder shown in Figure 2. It is assumed that the circumferential stress  is
constant through the thickness of the cylinder.

Figure 2

Force due to internal pressure p acting on area dz = pdz

Force due to circumferential/Hoop stress ( H ) acting on area 2tz = H. 2tz

pd pr
Equating:  H 2tz = pdz , Therefore:-
H = or H =
2t t

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Now consider the equilibrium of forces in the z-direction acting on the part cylinder
shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3

Force due to internal pressure p acting on area d2/4 = p. d2/4

Force due to longitudinal stress ( L ) acting on area dt =L. dt

d 2 pd pr
Equating:  Ldt = p , Therefore:-  L = 4t or
L =
4 2t

In the “open” ends condition, there is no obstruction to the end of cylinder.

L = 0
Therefore,

pr
H =
But t , Therefore,

Hoop Strain, H =
1
( H )
E

Longitudinal Strain, L =
1
(−  H )
E

While, in the “closed” ends condition, the force applied onto element are due to
. L and  H

Therefore,

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 Hoop Strain, H =
1
( H −  L )
E

Longitudinal Strain, L =
1
E
(
 L− H )

1.3 ADDITIONAL THEORY

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 (5 marks)
1.4 OBJECTIVES

(2.5 marks)

1.5 APPARATUS

Figure 4: The SM1007 Thin Cylinder apparatus.

In the “open” ends condition the hand wheel is fully screwed in. This pushes the
two pistons away from the cylinder end caps so that there is no contact between

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them. Therefore, the axial force is transmitted from the pressurized oil into the
frame rather than the cylinder. See Figure 5.

Figure 5: Open Ends Condition

In the “closed” ends condition the hand wheel is wound out. This allows the
pistons to move outward against the cylinder end caps so that there is no
contact with the frame. Therefore the axial force is transmitted from the
pressurized oil into the cylinder itself. See Figure 6.

Figure 6: Closed Ends Condition

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Technical Information
Length 358.8 mm
Wall Thickness 3 mm
Inner diameter, D1 80 mm
Guage factors 2.105
Cylinder material Aluminium alloy 6063
Young’s Modulus 69 GN/m2
Poisson’s ratio 0.33
Maximum allowable test pressure 3.5 MN/m2
Strain gauges Electrical Resistance Type

1.6 PROCEDURES
OPEN ENDS
1. Switch on the power to the thin cylinder to ensure the strain gauge reaches a
stable temperature for accurate readings.
2. Observe the positions and conditions of the strain gauges.
3. Open (turn anticlockwise) the Pressure control and screw in the Hand Wheel
to set up the Open Ends condition. At the VDAS, select the ‘Open Ends’
experiment condition.
4. Shut (turn clockwise) the Pressure Control and use the ‘Press & hold to zero’
button to zero the strain gauge display readings.
5. Records the first set of readings (at zero pressure) into your blank results in
Table 1.
6. Pump the Hand Pump until the pressure is approximately 0.5 MN.m-2. Wait for
a few seconds for the reading to stable and record the reading in Table 1.
7. Repeat the procedure in 6 by 0.5 MN.m-2 pressure increments until 3 MN.m-2.
8. Open (turn clockwise) the Pressure Control to reduce the indicated pressure
back to 0 MN.m-2.

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CLOSED ENDS
1. Switch on the power to the thin cylinder to ensure the strain gauge reaches a
stable temperature for accurate readings.
2. Observe the positions and conditions of the strain gauges.
3. Open (turn anticlockwise) the Pressure Control and carefully unscrew the
Hand Wheel to set up the Closed Ends condition. At the VDAS, select the
‘Closed Ends’ experiment condition.
4. Shut (turn clockwise) the Pressure Control and use the ‘Press & hold to zero’
button to zero the strain gauge display readings.
5. Records the first set of readings (at zero pressure) into your blank results in
Table 2.
6. Pump the Hand Pump until the pressure is approximately 3.0 MN.m -2. Wait for
a few seconds for the reading to stable and record the reading in Table 2.
7. Open (turn clockwise) the Pressure Control to reduce the indicated pressure
back to 0 MN.m-2.
(10 marks)

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1.7 RESULTS
Table 1: Thin Cylinder with Open Ends Experiment 1

Gauge

Pressure 1 2 3 4 5 6

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

Table 2: Thin Cylinder with Closed Ends Experiment 2

Gauge
Pressure
1 2 3 4 5 6

3.0

APPROVED BY

(15 marks)

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1.8 OBSERVATIONS

(10 marks)

1.9 CALCULATION

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 (10 marks)

1.10 DISCUSSIONS
i. Explain the difference between the “Open End” and “Closed End”
conditions?

(2 marks)

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ii. Which case experiences “uniaxial state of stress” and which case
experiences “biaxial state of stress”?

(3 marks)

iii. Briefly explain what the possible sources of error in this experiment are.

(5 marks)

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1.11 CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS
Deduce conclusions from the experiment. Please comment on your experimental
work in terms of achievement, problems faced throughout the experiment and
suggest recommendation for improvement.

(10 marks)
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1.13 REFERENCES

(2.5 marks)

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