UNIT 6 THIN CYLINDRES

Syllabus: Thin cylindrical shells Derivation of formula for longitudinal and

circumferential stresses. Hoop, longitudinal and volumetric strains changes in
diameter, and volume of thin cylinders. Introduction to Thin spherical shells.
UNIT-6 THIN CYLINDERS
1. (a). Describe Thin cylinders, Thin spherical shells with neat sketches.
When a thin-walled cylinder is subjected to internal pressure, three mutually perpendicular
principal stresses will be set up in the cylinder material, namely the circumferential or hoop
stress, the radial stress and the longitudinal stress. Provided that the ratio of thickness to
inside diameter of the cylinder is less than 1/20, it is reasonably accurate to assume that
the hoop and longitudinal stresses are constant across the wall thickness and that the
magnitude of the radial stress set up is so small in comparison with the hoop and
longitudinal stresses that it can be neglected. This is obviously an approximation since, in
practice, it will vary from zero at the outside surface to a value equal to the internal
pressure at the inside surface. For the purpose of the initial derivation of stress formulae it
is also assumed that the ends of the cylinder and any riveted joints present have no effect
on the stresses produced; in practice they will have an effect and this will be discussed
later.

Half of a thin cylinder subjected to internal pressure showing the hoop and longitudinal stresses acting on
any element in the cylinder surface.
(b). What are the stresses developed in thin cylinders when subjected to an internal
pressure.

Hoop or circumferential stress

This is the stress which is set up in resisting the bursting effect of the applied pressure and
can be most conveniently treated by considering the equilibrium of half of the cylinder as
shown in Fig.
Total force on half-cylinder owing to internal pressure = p x projected area = p x dL
Total resisting force owing to hoop stress
2
Circumferential or hoop stress

set up in the cylinder walls = 2

Lt = pdL

= pd/(2t)

x Lt

Longitudinal stress
Consider now the cylinder.
2

Total force on the end of the cylinder owing to internal pressure = pressure x area = p x ( d / 4

Cross-section of a thin cylinder

Area of metal resisting this force = dt (approximate1y)
Stress set up = force / Area =
2

p d /4 pd
=
dt
4t

Longitudinal stress

L=

pd
4t

2. Derive the formula for longitudinal and hoop stresses in thin cylinders.
Same as 1 (a) and 1 (b)
3. Derive the formula for finding the change in dimension of a thin cylindrical shell due
to an internal pressure.
Changes in dimensions in thin cylinders are of three types.
(a) Change in length
(b) Change in diameter
(c) Change in Internal Volume
(a) Change in length
The change in length of the cylinder may be determined from the longitudinal strain,
i.e. neglecting the radial stress. Longitudinal strain = (1/E)(

L H )

Change in length = longitudinal strain original length

= (1/E)(

L H )L = (pd/(4tE)](1 2 )L

(b) Change in diameter

As above, the change in diameter may be determined from the strain on a diameter, i.e. the
diametral strain.
Diametral strain = change in diameter/ original diameter
Now the change in diameter may be found from a consideration of the circumferential
change. The stress acting around a circumference is the hoop or circumferential stress on
giving rise to the circumferential strain

H d

New circumference = d + d

= d (1 +

But this is the circumference of a circle of diameter d (1 +

New diameter = d (1 +

Change in diameter = d (
Diametral strain (

H
= d(

H /d

=(

i.e., the diametral strain equals the hoop or circumferential strain.

Thus,
Change in diameter = d(

= (d/E)(

H L

) = (pd2/(4tE))(2-

(c) Change in Internal Volume

Change in Volume = Volumetric strain x original volume
Volumetric strain = sum of the three mutually perpendicular direct strains =
= (1/E)(

L H ) + (2/E)( H L ) = (1/E)( L H

(4tE)][1+4 -

+2

(L + 2 D)

H 2 L ) = [pd/

(2+2)]

= [pd/(4tE)][5 -

4 ]

Therefore with internal volume V

Change in internal volume = [pd/(4tE)][5 -

4 ]V

4. Calculate the bursting pressure for a cold drawn seamless steel tubing of 60 mm
inside diameter with 2 mm wall thickness. The ultimate strength of steel is 380
MN/m2.

5. Calculate the thickness of the metal required for a cast-iron main 800 mm in
diameter for water at a pressure head of 100 m if the maximum permissible tensile
stress is 20 MN/m2 and weight of water is 10 kN/m3.

6. A cylindrical vessel whose ends are closed by means of rigid flange plates is made of
steel plate 3 mm thick. The internal length and diameter of vessel are 50 cm and 25
cm respectively. Determine the longitudinal and hoop stresses in the cylindrical shell
due to an internal fluid pressure of 3 MN/m 2. Also calculate increase in length,
diameter and volume of the vessel.

7. A cylindrical shell 3 m long which is closed at the ends has an internal diameter of 1
m and a wall thickness of 15 mm. Calculate the hoop and longitudinal stresses
induced and also change in the dimensions of the shell if it is subjected to an internal
pressure of 1.5 MN/m2.

8. A copper cylinder, 90 cm long, 40 cm external diameter and wall thickness of 6 mm

has its both ends closed by rigid blank flanges. It is initially full of oil at atmospheric
pressure. Calculate the additional volume of oil which must be pumped into it in
order to raise the oil pressure 5 MN/m 2 above atmospheric pressure. For copper,
assume E = 100 GN/m2 and Poissons ratio = 1/3.

9. A cylindrical shell 90 cm long and 20 cm internal diameter having thickness of metal

as 8 mm is filled with fluid at atmospheric pressure. If an additional 20 cm 3 of fluid is
pumped into the cylinder, find the pressure exerted by the fluid on the cylinder and
the hoop stress induced.

10. The ends of a thin cylinder, 180 mm internal diameter and wall thickness 3 mm are
closed by rigid plates and it is then filled with a liquid. When an axial compressive
force of 33.6 kN is applied to the cylinder, the pressure of the liquid rises by 72
kN/m2. If E = 210 GN/m2 and Poissons ratio = 0.3, find the bulk modulus of the
liquid.

11. A cylindrical thin shell, 80 cm in diameter and 3 m long, is having 1 cm metal

thickness. If the shell is subjected to an internal pressure of 2.5 MPa, determine the
change in diameter, change in length and change in volume. E= 200 GPa, Poissons
ratio =1/4.

12. A water main 80 cm in diameter contains water at a pressure head of 100 m. If the
weight of water is 10 kN/m3, find the thickness of the metal required for the water
main. Given the permissible stress as 20 MPa.

13. A cylindrical shell 90 cm long and 20 cm in internal diameter having thickness of

metal as 8 mm, is filled with fluid at atmospheric pressure. If an additional 20 cm 3 of

fluid is pumped into the cylinder, find the pressure exerted by the fluid on the
cylinder and the hoop stress induced. Take E = 200 GPa and 1/m = 0.3.

14. A cylindrical shell 3 m long which is closed at the ends has an internal diameter of 1
m and a thickness of 15 mm. Calculate the circumferential and longitudinal stresses
induced and also changes in the dimensions of the shell, if it is subjected to an
internal pressure of 1.5 MPa. Take E = 200 GPa and 1/m = 0.3.

15. A cylindrical vessel whose ends are closed by means of rigid flanged plates, is made of
steel plate 3 mm thick. The length and internal diameter of the vessel are 50 cm and
25 cm respectively. Determine the longitudinal and hoop stresses in the cylindrical
due to an internal fluid pressure of 3 MPa. Also calculate the increase in length,
diameter and volume of the vessel. Take E = 200 GPa and 1/m = 0.3.

16. A copper tube of 5 cm internal diameter, 120 cm long and 0.12 cm thick has closed
ends and is filled with water under pressure. Neglecting any distortion of the end
plates, determine the alteration of pressure when an additional volume of 32 cm 3 of
water is pumped into the tube. E for copper = 100 GPa, Poissons ratio = 0.3. K for
water = 2 GPa.

17. A cylindrical shell is 3 m long, and is having 1 m internal diameter and 15 mm

thickness. Calculate the maximum intensity of the shear stress induced and also the
changes in the dimensions of the shell, if it is subjected to an internal pressure of 1.5
N/mm2. Take E = 2 x 105 N/mm2 and = 0.3.

18. A thin cylindrical shell, 2 m long has 200 mm diameter and thickness of metal 10
mm. It is filled completely with a fluid at atmospheric pressure. If an additional
25000 mm3 fluid is pumped in, find the pressure developed and hoop stress
developed. Find also the changes in diameter and length. Take E = 2 x 105 N/mm2 and
= 0.3.

19. The diameter of a city water supply pipe is 750 mm. It has to withstand a water head
of 60 m. Find the thickness of the seamless pipe, if the permissible stress is 20
N/mm2. Take unit weight of water as 9810 N/m3.