ABERDEEN COLLEGE

Stress and Strain Analysis of

a Thin Cylinder
LO2-b
Joseph Olsen
6/6/2013

Unit: DV01 35 Strength of Materials Advanced

Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 2
Objectives ................................................................................................................................................... 2
Equipment ................................................................................................................................................... 3
Method/Test Procedure ............................................................................................................................... 5
Closed End Condition .............................................................................................................................. 5
Results- Open End Condition ................................................................................................................... 6
Closed End Condition .............................................................................................................................. 7
Calculations -Youngs modulus .................................................................................................................. 9
Poissons ratio ........................................................................................................................................... 10
Principle stresses (closed ends condition)................................................................................................. 11
Mohrs circle of strain (closed ends condition) ........................................................................................ 12
Factor of safety ......................................................................................................................................... 13
Discussion/Comparison of Values ............................................................................................................ 14
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................ 16
References ................................................................................................................................................. 16
Appendix 1 ................................................................................................................................................ 17
Appendix 2 ................................................................................................................................................ 18
Appendix 3 ................................................................................................................................................ 19
Appendix 4 ................................................................................................................................................ 20

Aberdeen College - 2013

Mechanical Engineering

Unit: DV01 35 Strength of Materials Advanced

Introduction
An experiment was carried out utilising the TQ SM1007 Thin cylinder testing machine. The cylinder
was pressurised and the stress and strain that the cylinder was exposed to was measured and recorded.
The relationship between the stress and strain was then analysed and using a number of different
scientific principles, compared to the theory.

Objectives
Using experimental apparatus to measure strains on the surface of a thin cylinder which is subjected to
an internal pressure, and incorporating theory this assignment had the following objectives:
a. Determine Youngs Modulus for the cylinder material and compare this to the stated value.
b. Determine Poissons Ratio for the cylinder material and compare this to the stated value.
c. Calculate experimental values for the principal stresses created in the cylinder walls (using the
measured principal strain values) and comparing these to the theoretical values (calculated
using thin cylinder theory).
d. Construct a Mohrs circle of strain using the principle strain gauge values, and then compare the
non-principal strain gauge readings to those found from using the Mohrs circle.
e. Apply appropriate theories of failure to determine a factor of safety for the cylinder at the
maximum level of internal pressure.
f. Explain why the six strain gauges did what they did.

Aberdeen College - 2013

Mechanical Engineering

Unit: DV01 35 Strength of Materials Advanced

Equipment
TQ SM1007 Thin cylinder testing machine (see appendices 1)
Pressure
Gauge

Strain
Gauge

Frame

Hand
Wheel

Pressure
Release
Valve
Hand
Pump

Computer
Connection

Arrangement of
Strain Gauges
and Gauge
Factor

The Pressure Gauge indicates the pressure within the cylinder.

The Hand Pump is pumped to increase the pressure within the cylinder.
The Hand Wheel winds in so that the axial stress can be transferred from the cylinder to the frame via
the movable pistons within the cylinder. The hand wheel can also be wound out so that the cylinder
takes all axial stress.
The Pressure Release Valve releases the pressure within the cylinder when turned anti clockwise.
The computer connection connects the experimental apparatus to the computer so that the apparatus
software can record the pressure and strain data.
Computer runs SM1007 software to record data.
The Frame takes the axial stress when in the closed ends configuration.

Aberdeen College - 2013

Mechanical Engineering

Unit: DV01 35 Strength of Materials Advanced

The Strain gauge measures the strain in the cylinder

across five different directions with six individual
gauges contained within it.

Closed end condition

Hoop stress

The pressurised oil creates a force in all directions.

Under all conditions hoop stress and radial stress
will be created as the oil pushes out on the
cylinder. Although the radial stress is very small in
comparison so in this case is insignificant. But in
the closed ends condition there is also axial stress.
This is because the pistons are free to move.
Therefore the oil pushes them into the end caps
which in turn transfer the strain to the cylinder.
Because there is stress in more than one direction
this can be classed as a complex stress situation.

Axial
stress

Open end condition

Cylinder
In the open ends condition the hand wheel is
tightened up so that there is a gap between the
back of the pistons and the end caps. This
allows the axial stress to be transferred
through the pistons and to the frame.
Therefore there is no axial stress acting on the
cylinder. As the only significant stress is axial
this situation can be defined as a simple stress
situation.

Aberdeen College - 2013

Mechanical Engineering

Unit: DV01 35 Strength of Materials Advanced

Method/Test Procedure
Open End Condition
The pressure relief valve was opened and then the hand wheel was turned clockwise until it stopped
turning. At this point the pistons were pushed in so that the frame would take axial stress. This meant
that the cylinder was in open ends condition and would only be significantly subjected to hoop stress.
The apparatus was then connected to the computer and the pressure and strain gauges were zeroed by
pressing F4. The first strain and pressure readings were then taken at 0 MN/
by pressing F2 which
recorded them in a table.
The pressure relief valve was then tightened and the hand pump was slowly pumped until the pressure
reading was 0.5 MN/ . It was necessary to wait a couple of seconds after the final pump as it took a
while for the readings to stabilise. If the pressure exceeded this number by too much then some pressure
was released using the pressure release valve. The pump could be pumped again if too much pressure
was lost. If the pressure reading was within 0.02 of the desired pressure then strain and pressure readings
could still be taken. After the readings were taken the pressure was taken up in 0.5 MN/
increments
and readings taken until the pressure read 3 MN/ .

Closed End Condition

The pressure relief valve was undone so that there was no pressure in the cylinder and the hand wheel
was unwound so that the pistons would push against the end caps and transfer the axial stress to the
cylinder. This meant the cylinder was subject to bi-axial loading as it would be subject to hoop stress
and axial stress.
The apparatus was then connected to the computer and the pressure and strain gauges were zeroed by
pressing F4. The first strain and pressure readings were then taken at 0 MN/
by pressing F2 which
recorded them in a table. The pressure relief valve was then tightened and the hand pump was slowly
pumped until the pressure reading was 3 MN/ . It was necessary to wait a couple of seconds after the
final pump as it took a while for the readings to stabilise. If the pressure exceeded this number by too
much then some pressure was released using the pressure release valve. The pump could be pumped
again if too much pressure was lost. If the pressure reading was within 0.02 of the desired pressure then
strain and pressure readings could still be taken.

Aberdeen College - 2013

Mechanical Engineering

Unit: DV01 35 Strength of Materials Advanced

Results- Open End Condition

Pressure
Strain gauge readings /
/ MNm
1
2
3
4
5
0.00
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.50
95.8
-29.0
1.9
34.0
64.5
1.02
197.1
-60.9
2.1
69.6
133.3
1.50
291.2
-91.2
1.7
102.2
196.9
2.00
386.5
-122.3
1.2
135.1
260.9
2.50
483.7
-154.2
0.4
168.7
326.4
3.00
579.9
-187.8
-0.4
201.9
390.9
In a simple stress situation such as this, stress is only acting in one direction.
Although the hoop stress acts in only one direction strain will act in two directions.
This is because as the stress makes an object lengthen (longitudinal strain) in the
direction of stress it will also cause the object to narrow in a direction 90(transverse
strain) to the direction of stress. This is because the object will maintain the same
volume/area unless the density changes. All longitudinal strain is therefore given a
positive value as its size is increasing whilst all transverse strain is given a negative
value as its decreasing. Longitudinal strain will also always be higher than transverse
strain and they are proportional to one another as they are linked by Poissons ratio.

6
0.0
97.8
199.8
294.5
390.7
489.3
586.9

Strain gauges are designed to measure strain along their length. If this length
increases the resistance in the gauge increases, leading to higher strain readings. If
this length decreases the resistance decreases leading to negative strain readings.
Strain gauge one and six travel in the direction of the hoop stress. Therefore they had
the highest strain values as they would lengthen the most longitudinally whilst
narrowing the least transversely. They are very close to one another in value but are slightly different as
the cylinder wont uniformly deform if there are any variances in the thickness or structure.
Strain gauge two had negative readings as the hoop stress caused the strain gauge to shorten due to the
transverse strain whilst the longitudinal strain would have an insignificant effect on it.
Strain gauge three had readings around zero. This would indicate that at an angle of 60 to the hoop
stress, the longitudinal and transverse strain cancel each other out. As this angle is halfway between the
angle of gauges two and four it was expected that the gauge reading would be halfway between these
two figures which it was.
Strain gauge four is at an angle of 45 to the hoop stress. Therefore it
would be expected that the gauge readings would be halfway
between the readings for gauges one/six and gauge two. These
results confirmed what was expected.
Strain gauge five is at an angle of 30 to the hoop stress. Therefore it
would be expected that the gauge readings would be halfway
between gauge four and gauge six. This was again confirmed by the
results.
Aberdeen College - 2013

Mechanical Engineering

Unit: DV01 35 Strength of Materials Advanced

Closed End Condition

Pressure

Strain gauge readings /

/ MNm

3.00

476.1

103.0

191.1

297.8

383.2

493.5

In the closed end condition the thin walled

cylinder is subject to both axial and hoop stress
so this is a complex stress situation. Hoop stress
is double the size of the axial stress as
and

For this situation I have labelled my stresses

hoop stress and axial stress so that it is clear
what is causing the stress, but for calculations
sake it is easier to label them
and
respectively.
The hoop stress will primarily cause a positive
strain in the y direction but will also cause a

negative strain in the x direction but at a third of

the magnitude as calculated previously with
Poissons ratio. Conversely the axial stress will primarily cause a positive strain in the x direction and
secondly a negative strain at a third of the magnitude in the y direction.
To calculate the strain in the direction of hoop stress both the strains in the y direction are added
together. Thus to calculate the strain in the direction of the axial stress both the strains in the x direction
are added to together.
It was expected that gauge one and six would have the highest readings but that they would not be as
large as with the open ends cylinder. This was because the axial stress would also cause a negative strain
in the y direction. As the axial stress is half the hoop stress and Poissons ratio is about a third it would
be expected that the negative strain caused by the axial stress would be about a sixth of the positive
strain in the y direction caused by the hoop stress. Therefore it would be expected that the strain gauge
readings for one and six would be a sixth smaller than the readings at the same pressure for the simple
stress situation. The readings on the gauge confirmed what was expected, although there was a
significant difference between the two readings signifying that either the gauges werent manufactured
properly, or that the cylinder reacts to stress differently in different areas.

Aberdeen College - 2013

Mechanical Engineering

Unit: DV01 35 Strength of Materials Advanced

Taking in the hoop to axial stress ratio and poisons ratio it could have been expected that gauge two
would be about a sixth of the strain value of gauge one at the same pressure in the open ends condition.
Although the actual gauge reading is less than this it was pretty close at 103.0 compared to 96.5.
It was expected that gauge four would be halfway between the readings for gauges one/six and gauge
two. This would be around the 300 mark and at 297.8 it was very close.
Gauge three should be halfway between the gauge two and the gauge four readings at about 200. At
191.1 this is reasonably close.
Gauge five should be halfway between the values for gauge four and gauges one/six. This would be
around 395, but the actual reading was 383.2 which wasnt too bad.

Aberdeen College - 2013

Mechanical Engineering

Unit: DV01 35 Strength of Materials Advanced

Calculations -Youngs modulus

For simple stress

To calculate youngs modulus of elasticity using this formula it

was imperative that the cylinder was only exposed to simple
stress. The stress and the strain must also be running in the
same direction. To ensure this was the case and that there was
only one significant direction of stress, the apparatus was used
in the open ends condition. This meant that axial stress (a)
could be eradicated as all axial forces where taken by the
pistons in the ends of the cylinder and transferred to the frame
ensuring that the only significant stress acting upon the cylinder
was the hoop stress (h).

To measure the strain running in the direction of the hoop stress, strain gauges running in the same
direction must be used. Therefore strain gauges one and six were used to record the necessary strain
readings.
As the hoop stress was created by the high pressure of the oil within the cylinder it was hard to directly
measure the hoop stress. Therefore it had to be calculated using
with p being the pressure
within the cylinder which was read off of the gauge, d being the inside diameter of the cylinder and t
being the thickness of the cylinder wall.
when thickness (t) = 0.003m and internal diameter (d)= 0.080m. Therefore
Pressure (p)
(MN/m)

Hoop stress (h)

(MN/m)

Gauge one strain

(1x10 )

Gauge six strain

(1x10 )

0
0.5
1.02
1.5
2
2.5
3

0
6.666666667
13.6
20
26.66666667
33.33333333
40

0
95.8
197.1
291.2
386.5
483.7
579.9

0
97.8
199.8
294.5
390.7
489.3
586.9

Average strain gauge

reading (1x10 )
((G1+G2)/2)
0
96.8
198.45
292.85
388.6
486.5
583.4

From graph (appendix 2)

y1=0

y2= 32.5

Aberdeen College - 2013

x1=0, x2=475

Mechanical Engineering

Unit: DV01 35 Strength of Materials Advanced

Poissons ratio
For simple stress

To calculate poisons ratio using this formula it is imperative that

the cylinder be experiencing simple stress and not complex stress.
L
Therefore the cylinder is used in the open ends condition. By
using the cylinder in the open ends condition the axial stress is
eradicated leaving only hoop stress and an insignificant amount of
radial stress.
To measure the transverse strain, (the strain at 90 to the
direction of stress which in this case is hoop stress) the gauge that runs in the same direction must be
used. Therefore strain gauge two was used.
To measure the longitudinal strain (the strain running in the same direction as the stress) the gauges that
run in the same direction must be used. Therefore gauges one and six were used.

Strain gauge one

(1x10 )
0
95.8
197.1
291.2
386.5
483.7
579.9

Strain gauge six

(1x10 )
0
97.8
199.8
294.5
390.7
489.3
586.9

Average strain gauge reading

(1x10 )
0
96.8
198.45
292.85
388.6
486.5
583.4

Strain gauge two

(1x10 )
0
-29
-60.9
-91.2
-122.3
-154.2
-187.8

From graph (appendix 3)

y1=32

y2= 164

Aberdeen College - 2013

x1=

, x2=515

10

Mechanical Engineering

Unit: DV01 35 Strength of Materials Advanced

Principle stresses (closed ends condition)

Experimental principle stress values

The principle stresses in a thin cylinder in the closed ends condition are hoop stress and axial stress. The
main difference between this and the open ends condition being that the pistons push against the ends of
the cylinder as the hand wheal isnt screwed in to take the axial stress. Therefore the cylinder is exposed
to hoop and axial stress.
E is the youngs modulus of elasticity determined during the open ends condition and is Poissons ratio
also determined at that time.
is the hoop strain that was an average of the hoop strain measured by
gauges one and six. is the axial strain that was measured by gauge two. Using these values and the
formula above it was possible to calculate.

=484.8

Calculation of theoretical principle stress value using thin cylinder theory

40

Aberdeen College - 2013

= 40 MN/

11

Mechanical Engineering

Unit: DV01 35 Strength of Materials Advanced

Mohrs circle of strain (closed ends condition)

To construct a Mohrs circle of strain,
a reference line with a point in the
middle was marked. This line would
is normally used to measure shear
strain but the strain gauges used only
measured direct strain.
From this centre point a horizontal
line was drawn (direct strain line).
Utilising an appropriate scale the
minor principle strain (average axial
strain reading from gauges one and
six) was marked on the horizontal
line. The major principle strain (hoop
strain measured by gauge two) was

Gauge diagram

then marked upon the line. These two marks were used
Non
as two points on the diameter of a circle so that the
principle
circle could be drawn in with a Centre point. The line
gauge
from the centre point to the marked on minor principal
strain
strain point was coloured in blue. This corresponded to
the axial strain line on the above diagram of gauges.
From the centre point to the major principle strain
point was coloured in red as this corresponded to the
hoop strain lines on the gauge diagram. To find the
theoretical strain gauge value for a nonprincipal strain value a line had to be drawn
from the centre of the circle to its
circumference. The angle of this line was double the
angle of the strain gauge either in relation to the hoop
strain line or axial strain line. So if the gauge angle was
Mohrs Circle Diagram
measured from the horizontal blue axial strain line on
the gauge diagram then it would have to be measured
from the blue line in the Mohrs circle. The angle
measured on the circle was double the angle measured on the strain gauge diagram. If the angle of the
strain gauge had been measured from a vertical red hoop strain line then this angle would be doubled
and measured from the red line in the Mohrs circle.
Utilising the scale used to mark on the major and minor strain points, the direct strain for the nonprincipal gauge could be measured. The horizontal distance from the circumference point to the
reference line (shear strain line) was a graphical representation of the direct strain. Therefore it could be
measured with a ruler.
(See appendices 4 for Mohrs circle of strain diagrams and theoretical values)

Aberdeen College - 2013

12

Mechanical Engineering

Unit: DV01 35 Strength of Materials Advanced

Factor of safety
Tresca

Von Misses

Aberdeen College - 2013

13

Mechanical Engineering

Unit: DV01 35 Strength of Materials Advanced

Discussion/Comparison of Values
Youngs modulus

(All sizes in GN/

The difference between the experimental value and the theoretical value is very small although the
experimental value is slightly smaller. This could be for a number of reasons. Either the theoretical
value for youngs modulus is wrong or mistakes such as the line of best fit being slightly wrong caused
an error in the experimental value. Temperature can also affect this but this wouldnt have played a
major part as it was conducted at room temperature.
Poissons ratio

The experimental value was 2.424% smaller than the theoretical value. This could have been caused by
the line of best fit not being totally perfect. If there were more readings taken then perhaps the
experimental value would be closer to the theoretical value. The gauges might not be precise enough or
the thin cylinder might have a slightly different chemical and crystalline structure than the theoretical
one.
Principal stresses

(All sizes in

The percentage error in both the principle stresses is about 1%, this would therefore indicate that one or
more of the variables used to calculate the experimental value was wrong. Although at only 1% this
percentage error is relatively small.

Aberdeen College - 2013

14

Mechanical Engineering

Unit: DV01 35 Strength of Materials Advanced

Mohrs circle of strain

All sizes are

Strain gauge

Angle from the

3
4
5

30
45
60

Theoretical value from

Mohrs circle (
198.45
293.90
389.95

Actual value
(
191.1
297.8
383.2

The percentage errors are both positive and negative which would give an indication that using Mohrs
circle of strain gives a very close approximation. If more tests were carried out there is every chance
that the percentage error would average out to zero.
Factors of safety
Using Trescas method of finding the factor of safety it was calculated to be 6.025 whilst using Von
Misses method it was found that the FOS was 7.038. Both of these findings indicate that the cylinder
was nowhere near failure at 3MN/m as with Trescas method predicting it wouldnt fail till
18.075MN/m and Von Misses method predicting failure wouldnt occur till pressure reached
21.114MN/m.
Trescas formula is more simplistic and conservative whereas Von Misses formula is more complicated
and gives a closer approximation. This would make Trescas method more favourable as a products
could be manufactured slightly weaker.
Overall accuracy
Overall the experiment got some good results and the percentage errors where relatively small. If the
experiment was repeated and there was more measurements taken with smaller increments there is no
doubt that the percentage errors could be reduced further. Although there is also a high likelihood that
the figures given by the manufacturer for the apparatus may be slightly wrong or that the strain or
pressure gauges were slightly out.

Aberdeen College - 2013

15

Mechanical Engineering

Unit: DV01 35 Strength of Materials Advanced

Conclusion
The experimental values for Youngs modulus, Poissons ratio and the principal stresses were found and
compared successfully against the theoretical values. Mohrs circles of strain for the non-principal
gauges in the complex stress situation were constructed and proved reasonably accurate. The theories of
failure determined two factors of safety which both proved the cylinder was kept well within safe limits.
Using the findings and the principles that were learnt it was possible to fully explain why the six strain
gauges read what they read. Therefore the experiment was a resounding success.

References
Matweb. (2011). aluminium 6063-T6. Available:
http://asm.matweb.com/search/SpecificMaterial.asp?bassnum=MA6063T6. Last accessed 03 Jun 2013

Aberdeen College - 2013

16

Mechanical Engineering

Unit: DV01 35 Strength of Materials Advanced

Appendix 1
Overall dimension

715mm x 310mm x 380mm high

Total mass of unit

26kg

Recommended oil

Shell Tellus 37 (or equivalent)

Cylinder and reservoir

Approximately 2 litres

capacity
Pressure gauge

0 5.0 MN/m (Operating range 0 3.5 MN/m)

Nominal dimensions

80 mm internal diameter ( D )
3mm wall thickness ( t )
358.8mm length

Cylinder material

Aged aluminium alloy 6063-T6

Youngs modulus (E)

69GN/m

Poissons ratio

0.33

Strain gauges

Electrical resistance and self-temperature compensation type.

Gauge factor 1.93

Aberdeen College - 2013

17

Mechanical Engineering

Unit: DV01 35 Strength of Materials Advanced

Appendix 2

Aberdeen College - 2013

18

Mechanical Engineering

Unit: DV01 35 Strength of Materials Advanced

Appendix 3

Aberdeen College - 2013

19

Mechanical Engineering

Unit: DV01 35 Strength of Materials Advanced

Appendix 4

Shear strain

Shear strain

Strain gauge three

Strain gauge five

389.35

198.45

60

120

direct strain

direct strain

Centre
103

103

484.8

Shear strain

484.8

Strain gauge four

90

293.9

direct strain

0
103

484.8

Strain gauge
3
4
5

Aberdeen College - 2013

Angle from the

30
45
60

20

Theoretical value from

Mohrs circle (*
198.45
293.90
389.95

Actual value
(*
191.1
297.8
383.2

Mechanical Engineering