THIN-WALLED

PRESSURE VESSELS
 THIN-WALLED PRESSURE VESSELS
• Cylindrical or spherical pressure vessels are commonly
used in industry to serve as boilers or storage tanks.

• The stresses acting in the wall of these vessels can be

analyzed in a simple manner provided it has a thin wall,
that is, the inner-radius-to-wall-thickness ratio is 10 or more
(𝑟/𝑡 ≥ 10)

• Specifically, when 𝑟/𝑡 ≥ 10 the results of a thin-wall

analysis will predict a stress that is approximately 4% less
than the actual maximum stress in the vessel.

• For larger 𝑟/𝑡 ratios this error will be even smaller

 THIN-WALLED PRESSURE VESSELS
Assumptions:
1. Inner-radius-to-wall-thickness ratio ≥ 10
2. Stress distribution in thin wall is uniform or constant

• Cylindrical vessels:

• The cylindrical vessel in Fig. a has a wall thickness t, inner radius r, and
is subjected to an internal gas pressure p.
• Two types of stresses: circumferential or hoop stress, & longitudinal
stress
 THIN-WALLED PRESSURE VESSELS
• To find the circumferential or hoop stress, we can section the vessel by
planes a, b, and c (in the previous slide).

• Considering only loadings in the x-direction: shown in fig (b) below

෍ 𝐹𝑥 = 0; 2[𝜎1 𝑡 𝑑𝑦 ] − 𝑝 2𝑟 𝑑𝑦 = 0

Hoop direction:

2𝑡𝑑𝑦𝜎1 = 2𝑝𝑟𝑑𝑦

𝑝𝑟
Hoop direction: 𝜎1 =
𝑡
 THIN-WALLED PRESSURE VESSELS
LONGITUDINAL STRESS

• In a FBD below, 𝜎2 a uniformly throughout the wall, and p acts on

the section of the contained gas.

• Since the mean radius is approximately equal to the vessel’s inner

radius, equilibrium in the y direction requires:

෍ 𝐹𝑦 = 0; 𝜎2 2𝜋𝑟𝑡 − 𝑝 𝜋𝑟 2 = 0

𝒑𝒓
𝝈𝟐 =
𝟐𝒕
 THIN-WALLED PRESSURE VESSELS (cont)
LONGITUDINAL STRESS

• Comparing the two stresses, it can be seen that the hoop or

circumferential stress is twice as large as the longitudinal or
axial stress.

• This implies that:

• when fabricating cylindrical pressure vessels from rolled-
formed plates, it is important that the longitudinal joints
be designed to carry twice as much stress as the
circumferential joints.
 THIN-WALLED PRESSURE VESSELS (cont)

• Spherical vessels:

෍ 𝐹𝑦 = 0; 𝜎2 2𝜋𝑟𝑡 − 𝑝 𝜋𝑟 2 = 0

pr
2 =
2t

This is the same result as that obtained for the longitudinal

stress in the cylindrical pressure vessel, although this stress
will be the same regardless of the orientation of the
hemispheric free-body diagram
 THIN-WALLED PRESSURE VESSELS (cont)
• LIMITATIONS:
• The above analysis indicates that an element of material taken from either a
cylindrical or a spherical pressure vessel is subjected to biaxial stress, i.e.,
normal stress existing in only two directions.

• Actually, however, the pressure also subjects the material to a radial stress, 𝜎3 ,
which acts along a radial line. This stress has a maximum value equal to the
pressure p at the interior wall and it decreases through the wall to zero at the
exterior surface of the vessel, since the pressure there is zero.

• For thin-walled vessels, however, we will ignore this stress component, since our
limiting assumption of 𝑟/𝑡 = 10 results in 𝜎2 and 𝜎1 being, respectively, 5 and
10 times higher than the maximum radial stress, (𝜎3 )max = p.

• Finally, note that if the vessel is subjected to an external pressure, the resulting
compressive stresses within the wall may cause the wall to suddenly collapse
inward or buckle rather than causing the material to fracture.
EXAMPLE 1
A cylindrical pressure vessel has an inner diameter of 1.2 m
and a thickness of 12 mm.
• Determine the maximum internal pressure it can sustain
so that neither its circumferential nor its longitudinal stress
component exceeds 140 MPa.
• Under the same conditions, what is the maximum internal
pressure that a similar-size spherical vessel can sustain?
EXAMPLE 1 (cont)
Solutions
• The maximum stress occurs in the circumferential direction.
𝑝𝑟
𝜎1 =
𝑡
𝑝 600
140 =
12

𝑝 = 2.8 MPa

 2 = (140) = 70 MPa
1
•The stress in the longitudinal direction will be
2

•The maximum stress in the radial direction occurs on the material at

the inner wall of the vessel and is

𝜎3(max) = 𝑝 = 2.8 MPa

EXAMPLE 1 (cont)
Solutions

• For sphere: The maximum stress occurs in any two perpendicular

directions on an element of the vessel is

pr
2 =
2t
p(600)
140 =
2(12)
p = 5.6 N/mm2 = 5.6 MPa (Ans)
EXAMPLE 2
A tall open-topped standpipe below has an inside diameter of
2,750 mm and a wall thickness of 6 mm. The standpipe
contains water, which has a mass density of 1,000 kg/m3.
(a) What height h of water will produce a circumferential
stress of 16 MPa in the wall of the standpipe?
(b) What is the axial stress in the wall of the standpipe due to
the water pressure?
EXAMPLE 2 (cont)
Solutions

• Circumferential or hoop stress:

𝑝​𝑟 𝑝(1375mm)
𝜎hoop = = = 16 Mpa
𝑡​ (6 mm)

∴ 𝑝 = 0.0698 MPa

(a) Height h of water

p = gh = 69.818  10−3 MPa

69.818  103 N/m2
h = 3 2
= 7.122684 m = 7.12 m
(1,000 kg/m )(9.81 m/s )
EXAMPLE 2 (cont)
Solutions
(b) Axial stress in the wall of the standpipe due to water
pressure

Since the standpipe is open to the atmosphere at its upper

end, the fluid pressure will not create stress in the longitudinal
direction of the standpipe; therefore,

long = 0
STRESS CAUSED BY
COMBINED
LOADINGS
 STRESS CAUSED BY
COMBINED LOADINGS
• So far, we’ve determined the stress in a member
subjected to either an internal axial force, a shear
force, a bending moment, or a torsional moment.

• Most often, however, the cross-section of a member

will be subjected to several of these loadings
simultaneously, and when this occurs, then the
method of superposition should be used to
determine the resultant stress.

• The following procedure for analysis provides a

method for doing this
REVIEW OF STRESS ANALYSES

• Normal force, P leads to:

𝑷
𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚 𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠, 𝝈=
𝑨
• Shear force, V leads to:

𝑽𝑸
𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 − 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝝉=
𝑰𝒕

• Bending moment, M leads to:

𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛,

𝑴𝒚
𝝈=− (for straight beam)
𝑰
REVIEW OF STRESS ANALYSES (cont)

• Torsional moment T leads to:

𝑻𝝆
𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 − 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝝉 = (for circular shaft)
𝑱

𝑻
𝝉= (for closed thin−walled tube)
𝟐𝑨𝒎 𝒕

• Stresses in pressure thin-walled vessels

𝒑𝒓
Circumferential or hoop stress, 𝝈𝟏 =
𝒕

𝒑𝒓
Longitudinal or axial stress, 𝝈𝟐 =
𝟐𝒕
 RESULTANT STRESSES BY SUPERPOSITION

Once the normal and shear stress components for each

loading have been calculated, use the principal of
superposition to determine the resultant normal and shear
stress components.

Represent the results on an element of material located at a

point, or show the results as a distribution of stress acting over
the member’s cross-sectional area.
EXAMPLE 1
The member shown below has a rectangular cross section.
Determine the state of stress that the loading produces at point
C.
EXAMPLE 1 (cont)
Solutions
• The resultant internal loadings at the section consist of a normal force, a
shear force, and a bending moment.

• Solving, 𝑁 = 16.45 kN, 𝑉 = 21.93 kN, 𝑀 = 32.89 kN.m

EXAMPLE 1 (cont)
Solutions
• The uniform normal-stress distribution acting over the cross section is
produced by the normal force.

•
P 16.45 103
c = =
( )
= 1.32 MPa
A (0.05)(0.25)
At Point C,

• In Fig. e, the shear stress is zero.

EXAMPLE 1 (cont)
Solutions
• Point C is located at y = c = 0.125m from the neutral axis, so the normal
stress at C, Fig. f, is

( ( ))
Mc 32.89 103 (0.125)
c =
I
= 1

2 (0.05)(0.25)
3

= 63.16 MPa
EXAMPLE 1 (cont)
Solutions
• The shear stress is zero.

• Adding the normal stresses determined above gives a compressive

stress at C having a value of

Mc
c = = 1.32 + 63.16 = 64.5 MPa
I
EXAMPLE 2
A force of 15 kN is applied to the edge of the member shown
below. Neglect the weight of the member and determine the
state of stress at points B and C.
EXAMPLE 2

• For equilibrium at the section there must be an axial force of 15 000 N

acting through the centroid and a bending moment of 750 000 N.mm
about the centroidal or principal axis.
EXAMPLE 2 (cont)
Solutions
• For equilibrium at the section there must be an axial force of 15 000 N
acting through the centroid and a bending moment of 750 000 N.mm
about the centroidal or principal axis.

P 15000
= = = 3.75 MPa
A (100)(40)
Normal force:

Bending Moment:

• The maximum stress is

Mc 75000(50)
 max = = = 11.25 MPa
I 1
(40)(100)3
12
 EXAMPLE 2 (cont)
Superposition:
Elements of material at B and C are subjected only to normal or uniaxial stress

𝜎𝐵 = −3.75 + 11.25 = 7.5 MPa (tension) (Ans)

𝜎𝐶 = −3.75 − 11.25 = −15 MPa (compression) (Ans)

The location of the line of zero stress can be determined by proportional triangles

7.5 15
= 𝑥 = 33.3 mm
𝑥 100 − 𝑥
EXAMPLE 3
The rectangular block below of negligible weight is subjected to
a vertical force of 40 kN, which is applied to its corner.
Determine the largest normal stress acting on a section through
ABCD.
EXAMPLE 3 (cont)
Solutions
• For uniform normal-stress distribution the stress is
P 40
= = = 125 kPa
A (0.8)(0.4)

• For 8 kN.m, the maximum stress is

M xcx 8(0.2)
 max =
Ix
=

12 0.8)(0.4)
1 ( 
3 = 375 kPa

• For 16 kN.m, the maximum stress is

Equilibrium of the bottom
M ycx 16(0.4) segment
 max =
Iy
=

12 0.4)(0.8)
1 ( 
3 = 375 kPa
EXAMPLE 3 (cont)
Solutions
• By inspection the normal stress at point C is the largest since each
loading creates a compressive stress there

c = −125− 375− 375 = −875 kPa (Ans)