[LAB EXPERIMENT: THIN CYLINDER November 26, 2018

INTRODUCTION

In mechanics, a cylinder stress is a stress distribution with rotational symmetry; that is, which
remains unchanged if the stressed object is rotated about some fixed axis.
Cylinder stress patterns include:

 Circumferential stress or hoop stress, a normal stress in the tangential (azimuth)

direction;
 Axial stress, a normal stress parallel to the axis of cylindrical symmetry;
 Radial stress, a stress in directions coplanar with but perpendicular to the symmetry axis.
The classical example (and namesake) of hoop stress is the tension applied to the iron bands,
or hoops, of a wooden barrel. In a straight, closed pipe, any force applied to the cylindrical
pipe wall by a pressure differential will ultimately give rise to hoop stresses. Similarly, if this
pipe has flat end caps, any force applied to them by static pressure will induce a
perpendicular axial stress on the same pipe wall. Thin sections often have negligibly
small radial stress, but accurate models of thicker-walled cylindrical shells require such
stresses to be taken into account.
Hoop stress
The hoop stress is the force exerted circumferentially (perpendicular both to the axis and to
the radius of the object) in both directions on every particle in the cylinder wall. It can be
described as:

where:

 F is the force exerted circumferentially on an area of the cylinder wall that has the
following two lengths as sides:
 t is the radial thickness of the cylinder
 l is the axial length of the cylinder

An alternative to hoop stress in describing circumferential stress is wall stress or wall

tension (T), which usually is defined as the total circumferential force exerted along the entire
radial thickness

 Along with axial stress and radial stress, circumferential stress is a component of
the stress tensor in cylindrical coordinates.
It is usually useful to decompose any force applied to an object with rotational symmetry into
components parallel to the cylindrical coordinates r, z, and θ. These components of force
induce corresponding stresses: radial stress, axial stress and hoop stress, respectively.

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 [LAB EXPERIMENT: THIN CYLINDER November 26, 2018

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

The experiment further increased the knowledge about thin-walled pressure vessels. These
are containers that are defined as closed cylinders in which the internal pressure is different
from the external pressure that have a wall thickness smaller than 10% of the internal radius.
Due to the walls being reasonably thin, any bending stresses about the cylinder walls can be
neglected, forming a two dimensional state of stress. The two types of stress that correspond
to these two dimensions are a longitudinal normal stress (σl), hoop normal stress (σh), and a
shear stress (τlh). This can be seen pictorially below in figure: 1.

Figure 1: Hoop stress and longitudinal stress shown on the face and cut sections of a thin-
walled pressure vessel.

Using the following equations the theoretical values for the stresses above can be calculated
with the force as p the gage pressure, r as the internal radius and t as the wall thickness.
𝑝𝑟 𝑝𝑟
𝜎1 = 𝜎ℎ =
2𝑡 𝑡
In the experiment, the stresses were found both theoretically and measured with a
“strain-rosette” (figure 2) constructed of 3 electrical-resistance strain (ε) gages attached to the
outer wall of the thin-walled pressure vessel. The vessel is filled with air until it reaches a given
pressure in the lab manual (Marshall), then the 3 strains are read off of a monitor given as εA,
εB, and εC. Each represents a different angle (θ) on the stain-rosette with angles of θA is at 45o,
θB is at 0o, and θC is at -45o or 315o. Using the measured strains one can find two perpendicular
normal strains (εx and εy) along with a shear strain (τxy) with the equations in figure 3.

Figure 2: Example of a 45o strain-rosette. Figure 3: Equations for

calculating strain.

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 [LAB EXPERIMENT: THIN CYLINDER November 26, 2018

For this experiment the equations are solved using a matrix that is shown below in figure 4.

Figure 4: Example of figure 3 in matrix form.

After the values of εx, εy and ϒxy are calculated then their corresponding stresses (σx, σy, τxy)
can be found using the equations known as stress strain relationships for two-dimensional stress
(figure 5). Modulus of elasticity (E), poisons ratio (v) and shear modulus (G) are also used in
the equations.

Figure 5: Stress strain relationships where σx is σl and σy is σh

Once the values of the stresses and strains were calculated Mohr’s Circle for stress and strain could be
drawn. Using Mohr’s Circle with equations in figure 6 the principal stresses (σ1, σ3) and maximum in-
plane shear strain (τmax). To solve for the strain values one would simply replace the σ with ε.

Figure 6: Mohr’s Circle

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 [LAB EXPERIMENT: THIN CYLINDER November 26, 2018

EXPERIMENTAL SETUP

a) Thin-walled pressure vessel GUNT WP9500 as illustrated in Figure 1.

b) Data logger GUNT FL150

Figure 1 shows the thin-walled pressure vessel GUNT WP9500

Figure 1

Item:
1. Handwheel for Hydraulic hand pump
2. Measurement-cylinder
3. Strain gauges
4. Pressure gauge
5. Hydraulic pump
6. Connection socket to data logger
7. Collar
8. Fixed cover
9. Frame with baseplate

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 [LAB EXPERIMENT: THIN CYLINDER November 26, 2018

PROCEDURE

1. The data logger was switched on and both units were allowed to warm up for approximately
30 minutes.
2. Pushbutton was used to consecutively select channels 1 to 5 on data logger and display was
balanced with offset trimmer underneath.
3(a). Cylinder with opened end condition.
i. The hydraulic pump was screwed up as far as it will go. The plunger was screwed in
until pressure gauge pointer deflects slightly. The pressure gauge was unscrewed a little
to read zero reading.
ii. The hydraulic pump used to build up the required pressure to 35 bar. The induced
pressure was made sure did not exceed this rated pressure of 35 bar.
iii. The measured readings on channel 1 to 5 were read off and noted down on the data
logger.
iv. The hydraulic pump was screwed out and relieved the apparatus to zero pressure. The
measured readings on channel 1 to 5 were read off and noted down on the data logger
with zero readings. The difference between the two readings was relevant measured
value. Compensation can thus be provided for possible drift effects.
v. The whole experiment was repeated to obtain the other set of measurements with the
internal pressure at 20 bar. The induced pressure was confirmed did not exceed this
rated pressure of 35 bar. The induced pressure was made sure did not exceed this rated
pressure of 35 bar.

3(b). Cylinder with closed end condition.

i. The hydraulic pump was screwed up as far as it will go. The plunger was screwed out
as far as stop. Then, screwed in again roughly half a turn.
ii. The hydraulic pump used to build up the required pressure to 35 bar. The induced
pressure was made sure did not exceed this rated pressure of 35 bar.
iii. The plunger was checked whether it is in contact with cylinder collar. The plunger
handwheel must be free from pressure and turn easily.
iv. The measured readings on channel 1 to 5 were read off and noted down on the data
logger.
v. The hydraulic pump was screwed out and relieved the apparatus to zero pressure. The
measured readings on channel 1 to 5 were read off and noted down on the data logger
with zero readings. The difference between the two readings was relevant measured
value. Compensation can thus be provided for possible drift effects.
vi. The whole experiment was repeated to obtain the other set of measurements with the
internal pressure at 20 bar. The induced pressure was confirmed did not exceed this
rated pressure of 35 bar. The induced pressure was made sure did not exceed this rated
pressure of 35 bar.

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 [LAB EXPERIMENT: THIN CYLINDER November 26, 2018

RESULT

A. Cylinder opened end conditions

Internal pressure at 35 Bar
Chann Mode Measure Strain, Average
el no Determinati Determinatio Determinati Measured Strain
on No 1 n No 2 on No 3
1 Build up 0 0 0 0
Release 0 0 0 0
2 Build up -12 -13 -12 -12.3
Release 0 0 0 0
3 Build up 152 152 152 152
Release 0 0 0 0
4 Build up 261 261 261 261
Release 0 0 0 0
5 Build up 469 469 469 469
Release 0 0 0 0

Internal pressure at 20Bar

Chann Mode Measure Strain, Average
el no Determinati Determinatio Determinati Measured Strain
on No 1 n No 2 on No 3
1 Build up 0 0 0 0
Release 0 0 0 0
2 Build up 54 54 54 54
Release 0 0 0 0
3 Build up 148 147 148 147.7
Release 0 0 0 0
4 Build up 243 242 244 243
Release 0 0 0 0
5 Build up 318 316 320 318
Release 0 -1 0 1/3

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 [LAB EXPERIMENT: THIN CYLINDER November 26, 2018

B. Cylinder closed end conditions

Internal pressure at 35 Bar
Chann Mode Measure Strain, Average
el no Determinati Determinatio Determinati Measured Strain
on No 1 n No 2 on No 3
1 Build up 0 0 0 0
Release 0 0 0 0
2 Build up -12 -13 -12 -12.3
Release 0 0 0 0
3 Build up 152 152 152 152
Release 0 0 0 0
4 Build up 261 261 261 261
Release 0 0 0 0
5 Build up 469 469 469 469
Release 0 0 -0 0

Internal pressure at 20 BAr

Chann Mode Measure Strain, Average
el no Determinati Determinatio Determinati Measured Strain
on No 1 n No 2 on No 3
1 Build up 0 0 0 0
Release 0 0 0 0
2 Build up -7 -7 -7 -7
Release 0 0 0 0
3 Build up 105 105 106 105.3
Release 0 0 0 0
4 Build up 234 233 234 234
Release -1 -1 0 -2/3
05 Build up 362 360 364 362
Release 0 -1 0 -1/3

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 [LAB EXPERIMENT: THIN CYLINDER November 26, 2018

DISCUSSION
The presence of cracks on the thin cylinder is due to the pressure and stress applied. The thin
cylinder its own limit of stress and pressure that it can withstand. The thin cylinder will fail by
developing cracks on the main body if the pressure exceeded its limit, thus permanent
deformation (axial deformation) will occur. Plastic deformation is not an elastic deformation.
So, the change of the shape of thin cylinder cannot be recoverable. The exceed pressure will
affect the thin cylinder by producing cracks. Next, since the strength increase with grain size
refinement is accompanied by a reduction in ductility, the underlying failure mechanism may
change to fracture. An open end thin wall cylinder has no axial component (longitudinal stress)
of wall stress. Therefore, it will fail mostly by its hoop stress (radial stress) exceeding the limit
a thin wall cylinder can withstand. A crack will then be produced along its length causing it to
fail. Meanwhile, A closed end thin wall cylinder have both axial and radial stress. This means
a crack is produced by the combined might of both axial and radial force. The radial stress is
usually twice the value of the longitudinal stress, thus the stress trying to destroy the closed
end off is only half of the stress trying to split the cylinder along its length.

In this experiment, there are two potential sources of error which are machine and human. For
machine error, it would be the dimensions of the pressure vessel. The dimensions were given
and not measured as it is very difficult to measure the thickness of a sealed cylinder. The
dimensions may have changed over time due to repeated strains from loading the cylinder. If
the cylinder had ever plastically deformed, both the dimensions and modulus of elasticity
would have changed, changing the results of the experiment. For human errors, it is due to
careless attitude. Human error would have included reading the pressure gauge incorrectly,
giving a false reading, or not pumping the cylinder to the actual desired pressure. These errors
were in large part due to the lack of precision of the pressure gauge. When reading the strain
gauges, the values fluctuated, and the average of these values were recorded for data. Lastly,
more precise equipment would be necessary to reduce the error of this experiment and the
human error also need improvement by repeat the experiment three times or more, then average
it.

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 [LAB EXPERIMENT: THIN CYLINDER November 26, 2018

REFERENCES

Ross, C. T. (2011). Pressure vessels external pressure technology. Cambridge: Woodhead

Publishing Limited.
Nash, D. (1996). Pressure vessel design—concepts and principles. Thin-Walled
Structures,24(2), 189-190. doi:10.1016/s0263-8231(96)90006-3
Rybicki, E. F., Stonesifer, R. B., & Olson, R. J. (1981). Stress Intensity Factors due to
Residual Stresses in Thin-Walled Girth-Welded Pipes. Journal of Pressure Vessel
Technology,103(1), 66. doi:10.1115/1.3263372
Mechanics of Material. (2006). Kaplan Aec Educ.