THIN CYLINDERS

INTRODUCTION:
Pressure vessels are closed structures containing fluids (liquids
or gases) under pressure.
When pressure vessels have walls that are thin in comparison to their
overall dimensions, they are included within a more general category
known as shell structures.
Cylindrical and spherical vessels are used in the engineering field to
store and transport the fluids. Such vessels are storage tanks, boilers,
compressed air receivers, pipe line, pressurized cabins in aircraft and
space vehicles etc.
The cylinder which is having metal thickness very small as compared
to its diameter is known as thin cylindrical shell. For thin cylindrical
shell, the thickness should be less than or equal to 1/20 of its internal
diameter. Otherwise they are known as thick cylinder.
These vessels, when empty, are subjected to atmospheric pressure internally as
well as externally hence resultant pressure on the walls of the shell is zero.
But, whenever a vessel is subjected to an internal pressure its walls are
subjected to tensile stresses.
The failure of thin cylindrical shells may be in two ways. It may split in two
through or into two cylinders
In the result of internal fluid pressure. three types of stresses are
induced on three mutually perpendicular planes. That are

1. Hoop or Circumferential Stress (σC) – This is directed along the

tangent to the circumference and tensile in nature. Thus, there
will be increase in diameter.

2. Longitudinal Stress (σL ) or axial stress– This stress is directed

along the length of the cylinder. This is also tensile in nature
and tends to increase the length.

3. Radial pressure ( pr ) – It is compressive in nature. It varies from

inner surface to outer surface Its magnitude is equal to fluid
pressure (P) on the inside wall and zero on the outer wall if it
is open to atmosphere.
 σC σC σL σL
p pr
p p

σC σC σL σL
1. Hoop Stress (C) 2. Longitudinal Stress (L) 3. Radial Stress (pr)
pr σC

Element on the cylinder σL σL

wall subjected to these
three stresses

σC pr
 Stresses in a Thin Cylindrical Shell due to an Internal
Pressure
The analysis of stresses induced in a thin cylindrical shell are made on
the following assumptions:
1. The effect of curvature of the cylinder wall is neglected.
2. The tensile stresses are uniformly distributed over the section of the
walls due to symmetry of the vessel and its loading.
3. The effect of the restraining action of the heads at the end of the
pressure vessel is neglected.
4. Radial stress in the cylinder is neglected as the Stress analysis is valid
only for thin shells, therefore, there is a small difference between the two
radii appearing is neglected.
5. The pressure p is not the absolute pressure inside the vessel but is the
net internal pressure, or the gage pressure. Gage pressure is the internal
pressure above the pressure acting on the outside of the vessel. If the
internal and external pressures are the same, no stresses are developed.
only the excess of internal pressure over external pressure has any effect
on these stresses.
 THIN CYLINDERS
INTRODUCTION:

A cylinder or spherical shell is considered to be thin when

the metal thickness is small compared to internal diameter.

i. e., when the wall thickness, ‘t’ is equal to or less than

‘d/20’ or t/d < 1/20, where ‘d’ is the internal diameter of the
cylinder or shell, we consider the cylinder or shell to be thin,
otherwise it would be thick.
Magnitude of radial pressure is very small compared to
other two stresses in case of thin cylinders and hence neglected.
 t

Circumferential stress
Longitudinal

Longitudinal stress axis

The stress acting along the circumference of the cylinder is called

circumferential stresses whereas the stress acting along the length of
the cylinder (i.e., in the longitudinal direction ) is known as
longitudinal stress
The bursting will take place if the force due to internal (fluid)
pressure (acting vertically upwards and downwards) is more than the
resisting force due to circumferential stress set up in the material.

P - internal pressure (stress)

σc –circumferential stress
p
σc σc
σc t

P - internal pressure (stress)

p σc – circumferential stress

L
EVALUATION OF CIRCUMFERENTIAL or HOOP STRESS (σC):

p
t L
d
σc σc

Consider a thin cylinder closed at both ends and subjected to internal

pressure ‘p’ as shown in the figure.
Let d=Internal diameter, t = Thickness of the wall
L = Length of the cylinder. P= Pressure due to fluid
σC or σ1 or σh = Circumferential or hoop stress
Projected Area = d x L
t
σc

d
p

L Resisting Area = L x t
 Projected Area = d x L
t
σc
Resisting Area = L x
d t
p
Note: Assumed as
L
rectangular because it is
taken as projected area
Force due to fluid pressure (bursting force) =
pressure × projected area on which p is acting = p ×(d ×L)

Force due to circumferential stress (resisting force in material) =

Stress (σc) × resisting area on which σc is acting
= σc × ( L × t + L ×t ) = 2 × σc × L × t
Under equilibrium
bursting force = resisting force
p ×(d ×L) = σc × 2 L × t
Cancelling ‘L’

pd
 Circumferential stress, σ c  ...................( 1)
2 t
 EVALUATION OF LONGITUDINAL STRESS (σL):
A
The bursting of the cylinder takes
place along the section AB
P

σL
p

The force, due to pressure of the fluid, acting at the ends of the
thin cylinder, tends to burst the cylinder as shown in figure
 A

t
P
p d
B

Resisting Area = π d x t

Area of end = π/4 x d2

 t

σL

Longitudin al bursting force (on the end of cylinder)  pressure  area

π 2
p d
4

Let σ L  Longitudinal stress of the material of the cylinder.

 Resisting force  σ L  π  d  t
 Under equillibrium, bursting force  resisting force
π 2
i.e., p   d  σ L  π  d  t
4
pd
 Longitudinal stress, σ L  ...................( 2)
4 t

From eqs (1) & (2), σC  2  σL

OR
σC
σL 
2
Therefore, Longitudinal stress = Half of circumferential stress.
This also means that circumferential stress is two times the longitudinal stress
Hence in the material of the cylinder the permissible stress should be less than the
circumferential stress. Or in other words, the circumferential stress should not be
greater than the permissible stress.
 EVALUATION OF Maximum Shear Stress (𝜏max):

At any point in the material of the cylindrical shell, there are

two principal stresses (σc as σ1 & σL as σ2 ),
pd acting circumferentially
Circumfere ntial stress, σ c 
2 t
and
pd acting parallel to
Longitudin al stress, σ L  the axis of the
4 t
shell.

These two stresses are tensile and perpendicular to each other.

 pd
σc = σ1=
2t

pd
σL = σ2 =
4t
σL = σ2 =

σc = σ1=
As we know
(𝜏max) is average of major and minor principal stresses

pd pd
 1   2 2t  4t pd
( max )   
2 2 8t
Some of the limitations of thin-shell theory as applied to pressure
vessels are listed here:
1. The wall thickness must be small in comparison to the other
dimensions

2. The internal pressure must exceed the external pressure (to avoid
inward buckling).

3. The analysis presented in this section is based only on the effects

of internal pressure (the effects of external loads, reactions, the weight
of the contents, and the weight of the structure are not considered).

4. The formulas derived in this section are valid throughout the wall
of the vessel except near points of stress concentrations.
 PROBLEMS
PROBLEM 29:
A thin cylindrical shell is 3 m long and 1 m in internal diameter. It is subjected to
internal pressure of 1.2 MPa. If the thickness of the sheet is 12 mm, find the
circumferential stress, longitudinal stress & maximum shear stress.
Given:
P =1.2 MPa d=1 m = 1000 mm t = 12 mm
SOLUTION:
First we check whether, it is thin or thick cylinder
Ratio t/d < 1/20

t/d = 12/1000 = 0.012 < 1/20 (0.05) ∴ it is thin cylinder

pd
1. Circumferential stress, σC: σc 
2 t
= (1.2×1000) / (2× 12)
= 50 N/mm2 = 50 MPa (Tensile).
2. Longitudinal stress, σL:
σL = (p×d) / (4×t)
= σC/2 = 50/2
= 25 N/mm2 = 25 MPa (Tensile).

3. Maximum Shear Stress, (𝜏max)

 C   L 50  25
( max )  
2 2

12.5 N/mm2 = 12.5 MPa

PROBLEM 30:
A cylinder of internal diameter 2.5 m and of thickness 5 cm contains a gas. If the
tensile stress in the material is not to exceed 80 N/mm2, determine the internal
pressure of the gas.

Given:
P =?? d=2.5 m = 2500 mm t = 5 cm = 50 mm
Maximum Permissible stress = 80 N/mm2
SOLUTION:
We know that the circumferential stress should not be greater than the maximum
permissible stress. Hence take circumferential stress equal to maximum permissible
stress.
Maximum Permissible stress = σC =80 N/mm2
pd
1. Circumferential stress, σC: σc 
2 t
σ c  2  t 80  2  50 N
p   3.2
d 2500 mm 2
 PROBLEM 31:
A cylindrical boiler is 800 mm in diameter and 1m length. It is required to withstand a
pressure of 100 m of water. If the permissible tensile stress is 20 N/mm 2 and
permissible shear stress is 8 N/mm2, find the minimum thickness of the metal
required.
Given:
t=?? d=800 mm height of water = 100m
Permissible tensile stress = 20 N/mm2 Permissible shear stress = 8 N/mm2
SOLUTION:
Fluid pressure, P = wh 100 m of water = 100×9810 N/m2
= 0.981 N/mm2 .

1. Thickness from Hoop Stress consideration: (Hoop stress is critical

than longitudinal Stress)
Note:
σC = (p×d)/(2×t)
w =9810 N/m3
20 = (0.981×800)/(2×t)
2. Thickness from Shear Stress consideration:
(p  d)
τ max 
(8  t)
(0.981 800)
8
(8  t)
 t  12.26mm.

Therefore, required thickness, t = 19.62 mm.

 ASSIGNMENT
PROBLEM 32:
A cylinder of internal diameter 0.50 m contains air at a pressure of 7 N/mm2
(gauge pressure). If the maximum permissible stress induced in the material
in 80 N/mm2, find the thickness of the cylinder.
Ans. t =2.88 cm
PROBLEM 33:
A cylindrical pipe of diameter 1.5 m and thickness 1.5 cm is subjected to an
internal fluid pressure of 1.2 N/mm2. Determine :
(i) Longitudinal stress developed in the pipe, and (ii) Circumferential
stress developed in the pipe.
Ans. σC = 60 N/mm2 σL =30 N/mm2
PROBLEM 34:
A water main 1m in diameter contains water at a pressure head of 120 m.
Find the thickness of the metal if the working stress in the pipe metal is 30
MPa. Take unit weight of water = 10 kN/m3.
Ans t=20mm)