Department of Chemical Engineering Strength of Materials for Chemical Engineers (0935381)

Chapter 7 Thin Cylinders and Shells

1) Thin cylinders under Internal Pressure
t 1 d 20 When a thinwalled cylinder is subjected to internal pressure, three mutually perpendicular principal stresses will be set up in the cylinder. a) Circumferential or hoop stress H. b) Radial stress r. c) Longitudinal stress L.
Cylinders are considered thin when

Hoop Stress:

H =
Where: P is the internal pressure. d is the internal diameter. t it the wall thickness.

Force Pd = Area 2t

Longitudinal Stress:
L =
Pd 4t

Radial stress:

The radial stress for thin vessels is so small in comparison with the hoop and longitudinal stress 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.

r r

r = R1 r = R2

= Pi = Po = 0

Changes in Dimensions a) Change in Length:

It may be determined from the longitudinal strain neglecting the radial stress. H L = L H = L E E E PdL (1 2 ) L = 4tE

b) Change in Diameter:

d = H H =
Pd (2 ) 4tE Pd 2 (2 ) d = 4tE

c) Change in Internal Volume

V = 2 H + L V =
Pd (5 4 ) 4tE Pd 3 L (5 4 ) V = 16tE

2)

Thin Spherical Shell under Internal Pressure

Because of the symmetry of the sphere the stresses set up owing to internal pressure will be two stresses of equal value and perpendicular; the hoop or circumferential stress and a radial stress. Since for thin sphere the thickness to diameter ration is less than 0.05 the radial stress is assumed to e neglected in comparison with the values of hoop stress set up. Pd H = 4t

Change in internal volume

V = 3 d =
V =

3Pd (1 ) 4tE

Pd 4
8tE

(1 )

3)

Cylindrical Vessel with Hemispherical Ends

Hoop stress for cylindrical shell = 2 hoop stress for sphere for the same radius and wall thickness.

For cylindrical portion:

H =
c

Pd 2t c Pd 4t c Pd (2 ) 4t c E

L =
c

hoop strain H =

For hemispherical ends

H =
s

Pd 4t s

Pd (1 ) 4t s E The two strains must be equal, no distortion of the junction. Pd (2 ) = Pd (1 ) 4t c E 4t s E

H =

t s 1 = tc 2

Effect of end Plates and Joints

In general, the strength of the components will be reduced by the presence of riveted joints. We must introduce a joint efficiency factor.

For thin cylinders

L = H
Pd 4t c Pd = 2t L

Where: c is the efficiency of the circumferential joints. L is the efficiency of the longitudinal joints.

For thin spheres

H =
Pd 4t