University of Hong Kong

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Title: Thick-walled Cylinder
Object: To determine stresses and strains in a thick cylinder under
different internal pressures
Theory:
In the case of the Thick Cylinder under consideration, the
longitudinal stress z may be ignored and only a biaxial stress
system need be considered.

The above figure shows an element of material at some radius r and

contained within the cylinder. Internal cylinder pressure is p.
Principal stress and r are acting on this element. The
principal strains set up by these stresses are:

1
= r = ( r ) (1)
E
E
E

1
r = r = ( r ) (2)
E
E
E
r
z=

=
( + ) (3)
E
E
E r
Normal convention denotes a negative quantity as compressive and
a positive quantity as tensile whether they are stresses or strains.
Now assuming the elementary Lames Equations:
B
=A 2 (4)
r
B
r = A+ 2 (5)
and
r
Where A and B are constants.
B
Then at bore: r =p= A+ 2
R1

and at 0/D:

r =0=A +

B
R 22

Therefore
R 22 R12
B=p
( R 22R12)
and
2
R1
A= p
2
2
( R2 R 1 )
from with
R1 2
R 22 R12 1
r= p
p
2
( R 22R12 ) ( R 22R12 ) r
2
2
R
R
p 2 1 2 [ 22 1]
( R2 R 1 ) r
or
R 22
p
r= 2
[ 1 2 ]
r
( K 1 )
where K=R 2 /R1
2
2
2
R1
R2 R1 1
=p 2
+p
and
2
( R2 R 12 ) ( R22R12 ) r
R 12
R22
p 2
[1+ 2 ]
r
( R 2 R 12)
or
R22
p
= 2
[1+ 2 ]
r
( K 1 )
Apparatus:
The thick cylinder unit consists of a concentric hollow cylinder f
inner radius 18.5mm and outer radius 75mm. The internal pressure
is applied through a hand operated oil pump. There are a total of 13
active strain gauges mounted in various positions at various radii
throughout the cylinder wall as shown below thus enabling a
complete analysis of stress and strain variation to be made.

DISOPSITION OF STRAIN GAUGES

GAUGE
RADIUS
STRAIN
NO.
(mm)
1
28
HOOP
2
28
RADIAL
3
36
HOOP
4
36
RADIAL
5
45
HOOP
6
45
RADIAL
7
56
HOOP
8
56
RADIAL
9
63
HOOP
10
63
RADIAL
11
18.5
CIRCUML
12
75
LONGITL
13
75
CIRCUML
The temperature compensating gauges are fixed onto a plate which
is house in the control box on the front end plate of the frame
housing of the selector switch and he compensation gauges. The
strain on each active gauge can be measured by means of the
Tecquipment strain bridge. The desire gauge number can be
selected by operating the selector switch.
Experimental Procedure:
With zero pressure in the system, obtain a balance reading for each
of the 13 gauges on the strain measuring device. Pressurize the
cylinder, by means of the hand pump, up to the desired test
pressure and hold this pressure steady. It is suggested that a
pressure close to, but not exceeding, the maximum allowable test
pressure of 1.89 MN/m2 will provide good results. Again take a set of
balanced bridge reading from final (pressurized) reading the gives

the strain value. Tabulate these values in a table of the form of Table
1. If required, this procedure can be repeated a several test
pressures and the resultant strains measured and analyzed.

Radius (mm)

Results:
In all calculations, the following values for Youngs Modulus and
Poissons Ratio are used:
E=73.1 GN/m2
v=0.33
Tables 1 Strains
28
36
45
56
63

Gauge number
Nature of strain
Pressure=0
Pressure = 6.5
MN/m2
Measured Strain
6

(10 )
Calculated strain
6

(10 )
Error Difference

2
r

4
r

6
r

8
r

10
r

18.
5
11

0.0

1.0

0.0

-1.0

44.0

-23.0

19.0

0.0
14.0

0.0

-73.0

0.0
30.
0

0.0

74.0

0.0
40.0

-1.0
10.0

1.0
137.
0

66.7

-66.7

39.6

36.0

27.
0

-20.7

18.0

12.6

12.6

-8.1

122.
5

58.8

-51.1

37.1

17.6

-9.9

14.7

-7.0

23.0
%

6.4
%

25.
1
7%

-17.4

11.8%

29.4
18%

-16%

2.3%

22%

16.7
%

14%

14.0

Calculated Stress disbution

hoop stress
radial stress

129.
7
5.9
%

75
12
zz

13

0.0

0.0

0.0

12.0

0.0

10.8

3.8
/

11.5
2
6.6
%

Strain distribution

From the above graphs, maximum stress (Both and r )

locates at the inner surface (r=18.5mm) while minimum stress
locates at the outer surface (r=75mm)

By constructing a Mohrs circle, maximum shear stress locates at

the inner surface and the magnitude is 6.92 Mpa.

(0.84, 6.92)
x

-6.5

7.34

Discussion
In the theory, the effect of zz is neglected. The result of the
experiment shows that the percentage error is less than 25%.
Therefore the effect of zz can be neglected without causing
significant error.
Other source of error can be due to human error. During the
experiment, readings of strain gauges fluctuated. It is difficult to
obtain appropriate data. Apart from that, machine error or
calibrating error may also lead to inaccuracy.