TOPIC 4

THICK CYLINDERS
References:
1. Boresi AP, Schmidt RJ. Advanced Mechanics of Materials , 6th edition,
John Wiley & Sons, USA, 2003.
2. Hearn, E. J., Mechanics of materials 1, 3rd edition, Butterworth-
Heinemann, UK, 1997.
INTRODUCTION

• Examples of the use of thick-wall cylinders in

industry:
Pressure vessels Pipes

http://www.envirosep.com/APVCS/asme-pressure-vessels.html http://www.chillzoneindia.com/Piping.html
2
STRESSES IN CYLINDERS

• For a cylinder subjected to external loadings,

at any point on the cylinder wall, three types
of stresses are induced on three mutually
perpendicular planes:
1. Hoop or Circumferential Stress (σH) –directed
along the tangent to the circumference and
tensile in nature. Tends to increase the
diameter.

3
STRESSES IN CYLINDERS

2. Longitudinal Stress (σL ) – directed along the

length of the cylinder. This is also tensile in
nature and tends to increase the length.

3. Radial Stress (σr ) – It is compressive in nature.

Its magnitude is equal to the pressure on the
inside wall and zero on the outer wall if it is
open to atmosphere.

4
 STRESSES IN CYLINDERS

σL σL

p σr
p p

σH σH σL σL

1. Hoop Stress (sH) 2. Longitudinal Stress (sL) 3. Radial Stress (sr)

σr σH
•Element on the cylinder wall
subjected to these three stresses
•No change in shape (no shear)
σL σL
r

θ σH σr 5
THIN VS. THICK CYLINDERS

• Thin cylinders • Thick cylinders

– Ri/t > 10 – Ri/t  10
– Radial stress = 0 – Radial stress is considered
– No pressure gradient across
– pressure distribution varies
the wall
across the wall
– Hoop stress is constant
across the thickness of the – Hoop stress varies across the
cylinder wall cylinder wall
– State of stress is membrane/ – State of stress is triaxial
biaxial/plane stress

6
OPEN VS. CLOSED CYLINDERS

• Open cylinders (no end caps) and unconstrained:

axisymmetric deformations which are independent of z.
• Closed cylinders (constrained by end caps):
deformation and stress will depend on the axial
coordinate z in the vicinity of the supports or junction
between the cylinder and end caps.

7
LIMITATIONS OF THE ANALYSIS

• Only at locations far from the end caps where

the effects of the constraints imposed by the
end caps are negligible.
• In other words, the analysis is also applicable
to open cylinders at any location.
• A function of radial coordinate r, since only
axially symmetrical loads and constraints are
admitted (constant in θ and L directions).

8
LAMÉ’s THEORY (1833) VALID FOR BOTH OPEN
AND CLOSED CYLINDERS
• Assumptions:
1. Plane sections of the cylinder normal to its axis
remain plane and normal even under pressure.
2. Hence, σL and εL remain constant throughout
the thickness of the wall.
3. Since σL and εL are constant, it follows that the
σH+σr at any point on the cylinder wall is a
constant.

4. The material is homogeneous, isotropic and

obeys Hooke’s law.
9
LAMÉ’s THEORY (1833)

dθ/2
dθ/2

10
LAMÉ’s THEORY (1833)

• Radial equilibrium

• For small angles,

• Neglecting second-order small quantities

11
LAMÉ’s THEORY (1833)

• Constant εL (plane sections remain plane)

• Constant σL (away from the cap ends)

• Substituting (10.2) in (10.1) for σH

12
LAMÉ’s THEORY (1833)

• Multiplying through by r and rearranging

Note: σr is a function of r.

• Integrating yields

13
LAMÉ’s THEORY (1833)

sr s H  2A
• Radial stress sr sH
 A  s avg
2
Since s r and s H are principal stresses,
• Hoop stress B
is thus the radius of the Mohr's circle
2
r

14
GENERAL CASE:
BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PRESSURES
t
• Boundary conditions:
Ri
 r = Ri, σr = -Pi
Po Pi Ro
 r = Ro, σr = -Po
σH
σr

• Note: pressure causes negative radial stress

since it produces radial compression (thinning)
of the cylinder walls.
15
 B
Since sr  A 2 Substituting B into (1)
r
[You may also choose (2)]
B
A 2
  Pi (1)
Ri
( Pi  Po ) Ri2 Ro2
B A 2 2 2
  Pi
A  2   Po (2) ( Ro  Ri ) Ri
Ro
( Pi  Po ) Ri2 Ro2
A 2 2 2
 Pi
( Ro  Ri ) Ri
(2)  (1)
( Pi  Po ) Ri2 Ro2  Pi ( Ro2  Ri2 ) Ri2
B B 
Pi  Po  2  2 ( Ro2  Ri2 ) Ri2
Ri Ro
2 2 Pi Ro2  Po Ro2  Pi Ro2  Pi Ri2
B(R  R )
o i 
 ( Ro2  Ri2 )
R Ro2i
2

2 2 Pi Ri2  Po Ro2
( Pi  Po ) R R i o 
B Ro2  Ri2
( Ro2  R ) i
2
16
 B
s r  A  2
r
Pi Ri2  Po Ro2 ( Pi  Po ) Ri2 Ro2
 2 2

Ro  Ri ( Ro2  Ri2 ) r 2
Pi Ri2  Po Ro2  ( Po  Pi ) Ri2 Ro2 / r 2
sr 
Ro2  Ri2

Note: If you use (1)-(2), you will get the following equation:
 Pi Ri2  Po Ro2  ( Po  Pi ) Ro2 Ri2 / r 2
Ri2  Ro2
However, the above equation is less preferable since Ro > Ri .
Just multiply (-) to the denominator and nominator then
s r as shown in the previous form is obtained.
17
 Hoop stress
B
sH  A 2
r
2 2 2 2
Pi Ri  Po Ro ( Pi  Po ) Ri Ro
 2 2
 2 2 2
Ro  Ri ( Ro  Ri ) r

2 2 2 2 2
Pi R  Po R  ( Po  Pi ) R R / r
i o i o
sH  2 2
Ro  Ri
18
LONGITUDINAL STRESS

• Exists in closed-end cylinders.

• For open-end cylinders, σL=0.
• Say, consider both internal pressure Pi and
external pressure Po
Po

Ro
i
Pi

19
LONGITUDINAL STRESS

• Horizontal equilibrium
Pi   Ri2  Po   Ro2  s L   ( Ro2  Ri2 )
Pi Ri2  Po Ro2
• Longitudinal stress σL sL 
Ro2  Ri2
sH sr
• Note: is ONLY VALID FOR CLOSED-
sL  A 
2
END CYLINDERS.

20
LONGITUDINAL STRESS
sH sr
• For open-end cylinders, σL=0. But A
2

is not equal to 0. In other words, for open-end

cylinders, s  A
L

• Nevertheless, it should be noted that based

s s
on Lamé’s theory, A  H
2
r
is always true, which
applies to both open and closed-end cylinders.

21
 CLOSED-END CYLINDER Case 1: For Po > Pi
0

-50 σH σL σr
σ
Stress (MPa)

-100 σr
σL τ
-150 σH
Note:
-200 Open cylinder

-250
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 σH A=σavg σr σL
σ
Inner radius normalised radius Outer radius
τ
NOTE:
1. Variations of σH and σr are parabolic across the cylinder wall.
2. σH and σr are principal stresses, and σL is σavg.
3. The largest difference between σH and σr is at the inner radius.
22
 CLOSED-END CYLINDER

Case 2: For Pi > Po

150
0
100 -5

50 -10
Stress (MPa)

Stress (MPa)
σH σH
-15
0 σL σL
σr -20
σr
-50
-25
-100
-30
-150 -35
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
Inner radius normalised radius Outer radius Inner radius normalised radius Outer radius

NOTE:
1. Variations of σH and σr are parabolic across the cylinder wall.
2. σH and σr are principal stresses, and σL is σavg.
3. The largest difference between σH and σr is at the inner radius.

23
 SPECIAL CASE:
INTERNAL PRESSURE ONLY

Pi Ri2 (1  Ro2 / r 2 )
• Boundary conditions: sr 
Ro2  Ri2
 r = Ri, σr = -Pi  ( Ro / r ) 2  1 
  Pi  
 r = Ro, σr = 0  k 2
 1 

Pi Ri2  Po Ro2 ( Pi  Po ) Ri2 Ro2 Pi Ri2 (1  Ro2 / r 2 )

A B sH 
Ro2  Ri2 ( Ro2  Ri2 ) Ro2  Ri2
Pi Ri2 Pi Ri2 Ro2  ( Ro / r ) 2  1 
 2  2  Pi  
Ro  Ri2 ( Ro  Ri2 )  k 2
 1 
 s L (closed)
Where k is the diameter ratio =
D2/D1=R2/R1
For open-end cylinders, σL=0 24
 SPECIAL CASE:
INTERNAL PRESSURE ONLY
σr σL σH
40
CLOSED-END CYLINDER σ

30
τ
20
Stress (MPa)

10 σH Note:
0 σL Open cylinder
σr
-10

-20
σr σL A σH
-30 σ
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
Inner radius normalised radius Outer radius τ
NOTE:
1. Variations of σH and σr are parabolic across the cylinder wall.
2. σH and σr are principal stresses, and σL is σavg.
3. At the inner edge (r minimum), the stresses (magnitude) are maximum.
4. At the outer edge (r maximum), the stresses (magnitude) are minimum. 25
 SPECIAL CASE:
EXTERNAL PRESSURE ONLY
Po Ro2 ( Ri2 / r 2  1)
sr 
• Boundary conditions: Ro2  Ri2
 r = Ri, σr = 0  ( Ri / r ) 2  1 
2
 Po k  2 
 r = Ro, σr = -Po  k  1 

 Po Ro2 (1  Ri2 / r 2 )
Pi Ri2  Po Ro2 ( Pi  Po ) Ri2 Ro2 sH 
A B Ro2  Ri2
Ro2  Ri2 ( Ro2  Ri2 )  ( Ri / r ) 2  1 
2
 Po Ro2   Po k  
 Po Ri2 Ro2  k 2
 1 
 2  2
Ro  Ri2 ( Ro  Ri2 )
Where k is the diameter ratio =
D2/D1=R2/R1
26
 SPECIAL CASE: At Ri
EXTERNAL PRESSURE ONLY
CLOSED-END CYLINDER
0 σH σL σr
σ
-10

-20 τ
Stress (MPa)

σr
-30 σL Note:
σH Open cylinder
-40

-50 σL
σH A σr
-60 σ
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
Inner radius normalised radius Outer radius
τ
NOTE:
1. Variations of σH and σr are parabolic across the cylinder wall.
2. σH and σr are principal stresses, and σL is σavg.
3. The largest difference between σH and σr is still at the inner radius.
27
EXAMPLE 1

A thick cylinder of 100 mm internal radius and 150 mm

external radius is subjected to an internal pressure of 60
MN/m2 and an external pressure of 30 MN/m2.
Determine the hoop and radial stresses at the inside and
outside of the cylinder together with the longitudinal
stress if the cylinder is assumed to have closed ends.

28
EXAMPLE 1

29
MAXIMUM SHEAR STRESS

• Take note that σH and σr are always the

principal stresses, and σL and σavg.
• Hence,

= radius of the Mohr’s circle

Largest τmax at r = Ri (inner radius) 30

FAILURE THEORIES – DUCTILE MATERIALS
Note that:
1. The largest Mohr’s circle always occur at Ri. Hence, to
evaluate the cylinder, the principal stresses at Ri are used.
2. The principal stresses must be σH,Ri and σr,Ri.
3. σH,Ri could be +ve/-ve, but σr,Ri is always –ve.

1. Maximum-shear-stress theory (or Tresca criterion)

sY 
s H ,R  s r ,R  s H ,R 
i i i
 
 s H , R , s r , R have same signs
sY  i i

s r ,R  s H ,R  s r ,R 
i i i
 
sY 
s H ,R  s r ,R   s H , R , s r , R have opposite signs
i i
  i i

Internal pressure only case

31
FAILURE THEORIES – DUCTILE MATERIALS

2. Maximum-distortion-energy theory (or Von Mises criterion)

2
 sY 
s H2 , R  s r2, R  s L2  s H , R s r , R  s H , Ri s L  s r , Ri s L   
 
i i i i

3. Total-strain-energy theory (or Haigh criterion)

2
 sY 
s H2 , R  s r2, R  s L2  2 (s H , R s r , R  s H , R s L  s r , R s L )   
i i i i i i

 

32
FAILURE THEORIES – BRITTLE MATERIALS

4. Maximum-normal-stress theory (or Rankine criterion)

s ult s ult
s H ,R  s r ,R  s H ,R  s r ,R  s H ,R  s r ,R 
i i i
 i i i


5. Mohr’s failure criterion

Stress Region Mohr’s Circle Failure

sH,Ri > 0, s H ,R s r ,R 1
sr,Ri < 0 i
  i

sUT sUC 

sH,Ri , s H , R  s UC /  
i

sr,Ri ≤ 0 s r , R  s UC /  
i

33
FAILURE THEORIES – BRITTLE MATERIALS

6. Maximum-principal-strain criterion (or St. Venant criterion)

s ult
s H , R  (s r , R  s L )  
i i

s
s r , R  (s H , R  s L )   ult
i i

s
s L  (s H , R  s r , R )   ult
i i


Note: for open-end cylinders, σL = 0. Hence,

failure criteria 2, 3 and 6 could be further simplified
to be plane-stress case.
34
CHANGE OF CYLINDER DIMENSIONS

(a) Change of diameter

35
CHANGE OF CYLINDER DIMENSIONS

(a) Change of diameter

36
CHANGE OF CYLINDER DIMENSIONS

(a) Change of diameter

= diametral strain x original diameter
= circumferential strain x original diameter
2r
D   H  2r  s H  v s r  s L  
E

(b) Change of length

= longitudinal strain x original length
L
L   L  L  s L  v s r  s H  
E
37
 EXAMPLE 2

An external pressure of 10 MN/m2 is applied to a thick

cylinder of internal diameter 160 mm and external
diameter of 320 mm. If the maximum hoop stress
permitted on the inside wall of the cylinder is limited to
30 MN/m2, what maximum internal pressure can be
applied assuming the cylinder has closed ends? What will
be the change in outside diameter when this pressure is
applied? Given E = 207 MN/m2, ν = 0.29.

38
EXAMPLE 2

39
EXAMPLE 2

40
EXAMPLE 2

41
COMPARISON WITH THIN CYLINDER THEORY

• Compare only σH since the σHmax is normally the

limiting factor to determine the limit of D/t ratio
within which is it safe to use the thin cylinder theory
or not for a given pressure.
PRi PDi PK
THIN CYLINDER s H    , where K  Di / t
t 2t 2

 Ri2  Ro2 
THICK CYLINDER at r  Ri , s H max  P 2 2
 Ro  Ri 
Substituting Ro=Ri+t and Di=2Ri

 K2 
s H max  P  1
 2( K  1)  42
COMPARISON WITH THIN CYLINDER THEORY

• Thin cylinder condition limit: K = Di/t = 20

THICK CYLINDER
 K2   202 
s H max  P  1 =P   1 =10.52P
 2( K  1)   2(20  1) 

THIN CYLINDER
PRi PDi
sH    10 P
t 2t
%error
s H max  s H 10.52 P  10 P
%error  100  100  5.2%
sH 10 P
43
COMPARISON WITH THIN CYLINDER THEORY

Error will be held within 5% if D/t  20

Thick cylinder theory approaches thin cylinder theory
when D/t becomes larger. 44
 METHODS OF
STRENGTHENING
THICK CYLINDERS
COMPOUND CYLINDERS

• Large hoop stress

variation across the
cylinder wall when
subjected to internal
pressure.
• The material is therefore
not used to its best
advantage.

46
COMPOUND CYLINDERS – SAME MATERIALS

• To obtain a more uniform hoop stress distribution, cylinders

are often built up by shrinking one tube on to the outside of
another.
• When the outer tube contracts on cooling, the inner tube is
brought into a state of compression. The outer tube will
conversely be brought into a state of tension.
• A smaller total fluctuation on the resultant hoop stress is
obtained.

47
COMPOUND CYLINDERS – SAME MATERIALS

3 separate effects:

i. Shrinkage pressure only on the inside cylinder

At r  R1 , s r  0
At r  Rc , s r   p

48
COMPOUND CYLINDERS – SAME MATERIALS

3 separate effects:

ii. Shrinkage pressure only on the outside cylinder

At r  R2 , s r  0
At r  Rc , s r   p

49
COMPOUND CYLINDERS – SAME MATERIALS

3 separate effects:

iii. Internal pressure only on the complete cylinder

At r  R2 , s r  0
At r  R1 , s r   P1

50
COMPOUND CYLINDERS – SAME MATERIALS

• At any radius, apply the principle of superposition

to obtain the corresponding hoop and radial
stresses (total = internal pressure + shrinkage)

51
COMPOUND CYLINDERS – SAME MATERIALS

• In practice this means that the compound

cylinder is able to withstand greater internal
pressure before failure occurs.

• Alternatively, a thinner compound cylinder

(with the associated reduction in material
cost) may be used to withstand the same
internal pressure as the single thick cylinder
it replaces.

52
COMPOUND CYLINDERS – DIFFERENT MATERIALS

• Diametral strains must be equal at the

common surface.
• Ignoring longitudinal strain and stress,

53
UNIFORM HEATING OF COMPOUND CYLINDERS
OF DIFFERENT MATERIALS

• Two different materials upon uniform heating will

expand at different rates and differential thermal
stresses will be set up.

Both tubes being effectively compressed radially (on their thickness)

and an effective increase pt in “shrinkage” pressure is thus introduced.
54
SHRINKAGE AND INTERFERENCE ALLOWANCE

• In the design of compound cylinders, it is

important to relate the difference in diameter
of the mating cylinders to the stresses it will
produce.

• This difference in diameter at the “common”

surface is normally termed the shrinkage or
interference allowance.

55
SHRINKAGE AND INTERFERENCE ALLOWANCE

Pressure at the junction of two

cylinders owing to shrink fit

The material of the two cylinders

not necessarily being the same

56
HUB AND SOLID SHAFT

• Lamé equations

• In reality, at r=0 (centre of the solid shaft),

hoop and radial stresses cannot be infinite,
the only solution to yield finite values for the
stresses is B must be zero.

57
HUB AND SOLID SHAFT

• At the outer surface of the shaft

Therefore the σH and σr throughout a solid shaft are

everywhere equal to the shrinkage or interference
pressure and both are compressive.

The τmax = ½(σ1-σ2) is thus zero throughout the shaft.

58
FORCE FITS

• Another technique to form compound cylinders.

• Force-fit technique: the interference allowance is
small enough to allow the outer cylinder to be
pressed over the inner cylinder with a large axial
force
• For the interference pressure set up at the
common surface p and axial length of the contact
surfaces L, the normal force between the mating
cylinders N = p(2πrL)
59
FORCE FITS

• Friction between the cylinders to be overcome

by the applied force cylinders F =μN
(where μ =coefficient of friction)
F =2μπprL

p p
Fapp Fapp

60
PLASTIC YIELDING – “AUTO-FRETTAGE”

• Inner radius is most highly stressed, thus yielding

will start at this position.
• For partial yielded inner wall, when the internal
pressure is released, the elastic region tends to
return to its original dimensions but is prevented
by the permanent deformation of the yielded
zone.
• Hence, the elastic region is in residual tension
whilst the plastic region is in residual
compression – auto-frettage.
• Same effect as shrinking.
61
WIRE-WOUND THICK CYLINDERS

• Wound the cylinder with wire under tension

• The resulting hoop and radial stresses
developed in the cylinder will depend upon
the way in which the tension in the wire
varies.

62
CONCEPT TEST
σr
1. Which of the following Mohr’s circle σH
represent the stress states at the inner
radius of the thick cylinder which is σL σL
subjected to internal pressure only?
σH σr

σr σH σr σH σr σH σH σr
σ σ σ σ

τ τ τ τ
(a) (b) (c) (d)

63
CONCEPT TEST
σr
2. Which of the following Mohr’s circle σH
represent the stress states at the inner
radius of the thick cylinder which is σL σL
subjected to external pressure only?
σH σr

σr σH σr σH σr σH σH σr
σ σ σ σ

τ τ τ τ
(a) (b) (c) (d)

64
CONCEPT TEST
σr
3. Which of the following Mohr’s circle σH
represent the stress states at the inner
radius of the thick cylinder which is σL σL
subjected to both internal and external
pressure, with P2 > P1? σH σr

σr σH σr σH σH σr σH σr
σ σ σ σ

τ τ τ τ
(a) (b) (c) (d)

65
CONCEPT TEST
σr
4. Which of the following Mohr’s circle σH
represent the stress states at the inner
radius of the thick cylinder which is σL σL
subjected to both internal and external
pressure, with P1 > P2? σH σr

σr σH σr σH σr σH σH σr
σ σ σ σ

τ τ τ τ
(a) (b) (c) (d)

It depends!
66