Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology

MEE20004 - STRUCTURAL MECHANICS

LAB. 2 - THIN WALL CYLINDER- 2015 Sem. 2

By writing my name below, I declare this is an individual assignment and no part of this submission
has been copied from any other student's work or from any other source except where due
acknowledgement is explicitly made in the text, nor has any part been written for me by another
person. Refer to Unit of Study Outline for Plagiarism guidelines.

STUDENT NAME & No.: Mang__Bonny____4927044___Lab 2 report . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lab. Date & Time : . 13/10/2015 . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .

Demonstrator:. R.Hussein.

INTRODUCTION :
The aim of this Laboratory is to compare experimental strain measurements and theoretical strain
calculations for an internally pressurised aluminium thin-walled cylinder, GUNT item FL 130.
Experimental strain readings will be made using a Data Logger, GUNT item FL 151. A generic view
of the equipment is shown in Fig. 1 below. Two slightly different sets of equipment in use they are
functionally equivalent. A sectioned view of the thin-walled cylinder, GUNT item FL 130, may be
found in Fig. 3 overleaf. The equipment can act as either a closed cylinder or an open cylinder.
Strain gauges provide a convenient means of measuring very small strains. A typical gauge is shown
in Fig. 2a it measures linear strain only along its longitudinal axis. A number of strain gauges
are installed at different angles to the cylinder centreline as shown in Fig. 2b. Readings from these
strain gauges are monitored by FL 151 Data Logger directly as microstrain (10 -6 m/m or m/m).

Fig. 1 FL 130 Thin-wall Cylinder and FL 151 Data Logger (Generic)

1 of 13

Fig. 2a A single Strain Gauge

Fig. 2b Strain Gauge Orientation

OPEN / CLOSED CYLINDER :

Sectioned details of FL 130 Thin-wall Cylinder Apparatus are shown in Fig. 3. The equipment can
act as either a closed or an open cylinder as follows: Screwing out the Plunger (5) seals against
Collar (7) which effectively closes end of cylinder (1). Conversely, if Plunger is screwed in, cylinder
sees no axial force and effectively acts as an open cylinder axial reactions are carried by Frame (6).

Fig. 3 Sectioned FL 130 Thin-wall Cylinder Apparatus (Generic)

STRAINS , STRESSES and REFERENCE AXES :

For this experiment we will use right handed reference axes as follows: centreline of cylinder is X
axis (positive to the right) and Y axis is perpendicular to this (positive up). Strain gauge angle of
inclination (see Fig. 4a) must be measured anti-clockwise to the positive X axis.
The Axial and Tangential (or Hoop) Stresses induced in an internally pressurised closed thin-walled
cylinder (see Fig. 4b) will therefore be in the X and Y directions respectively.

2 of 13

Fig. 4a Strain Gauge Reference Axes

NOTE: x Axis is Axial direction;

Fig. 4b Axial and Tangential Stresses

y Axis is Transverse direction.

3 of 13

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS :
(a) OPEN CYLINDER :
(i)

Release hydraulic pump Bleed Valve (if present) fully. Screw in Plunger until
pressure gauge indicates a small pre-load (say 1 Bar); this will be taken as Nominal
Zero. Screw in Bleed Valve (if present*) until tight. Take strain gauge readings
for all channels using FL 151 Data Logger. (Allow readings to settle.)

(ii)

Use hyd. pump Handle / Handwheel to increase pressure by 20 bar and hold. Take
all strain gauge readings subtract (i) from (ii). [CAUTION : Never exceed 35
bar.]

(iii)

Reduce indicated cylinder pressure to Zero.

Strain
Gauge

Channel

1
2
3
4
5

A1
A2
A3
A4
A5

Angle

Strain

Strain

Strain

p= 1 bar
(m/m)

p=21 bar
(m/m)

p= 20 bar
(m/m)

0o
- 30 o
- 45 o
- 60 o
- 90 o

-11
-1
13
16
15

-149
-10
134
269
409

-138
-9
121
253
394

.
(b) CLOSED CYLINDER : Ensure indicated pressure zero prior to start.
(iv)

Release hydraulic pump Bleed Valve (if present) fully, screw out Plunger. Screw in
Bleed Valve (if present) until tight. Apply 10 bar pressure using hyd. pump Handle
/ Handwheel (to ensure Plunger seated), release Bleed Valve (if present*) fully.
Screw in Plunger roughly half a turn. Screw in Bleed Valve (if present*) until
tight. Apply small pre-load (say 1 Bar) using hyd. pump Handle / Handwheel; this
will be taken as our Nominal Zero. Take strain gauge readings for all channels
using FL 151 Data Logger. (Allow readings to settle.)

(v)

Increase pressure by 20 bar and hold using hyd. pump Handle / Handwheel. Take
all strain gauge readings subtract (iv) from (v). [CAUTION : Never exceed 35
bar.]

(vi)

Reduce indicated cylinder pressure to Zero.

Strain
Gauge

Channel

1
2
3
4
5

A1
A2
A3
A4
A5

Angle

Strain

Strain

Strain

p= 1 bar
(m/m)

p= 21 bar
(m/m)

p= 20 bar
(m/m)

0o
- 30 o
- 45 o
- 60 o
- 90 o

-9
1
13
14
12

-150
-10
134
269
410

-141
-11
121
255
398

*Note: There are 2 types of device. One type has the Bleed Valve and the other type does not.
4 of 13

Open Cylinder:
Pistons are used at each end of the cylinder. Pistons can move freely
along axial direction, thus the axial stress, = = 0 .

Closed Cylinder:
End caps are used at each end of the cylinder. End caps cannot move

freely along axial direction, thus the axial stress, = = 2 = .

2

5 of 13

ANALYSIS INSTRUCTIONS :
Analyse both open and closed cylinders as follows, filling out Table overleaf :
For background Theory, meaning of symbols etc.- refer to Beer et. al. Mechanics
of Materials Global Edition 6E.
A.

Determine Theoretical STRESS :

As the cylinder is thin-walled, the radial stress can be neglected ( R = Z = 0 ) and
we have a case of Plane Stress.
Hoop or Tangential stress for a cylinder of internal radius r is determined by :

HOOP Y

pr
t

(7.30)

Axial stress is determined : [ This will of course be Zero for the open cylinder case.]

AXIAL X

pr
2 t

(7.31)

Draw a Mohrs Circle to scale of in-plane Stress for both open and closed cylinders
(two graphs required) refer to Section 7.9 in Text for guidance.
B.

Determine Theoretical STRAIN :

Convert stress to strain using three dimensional Hookes Law [ Recall

. Y . Z
E
E
E

Y Y . X . Z
E
E
E
X

C.

Z = 0 ]

(2.38)

TRANSFORM Theoretical STRAIN :

For a strain gauge inclined at an angle to the X axis, determine linear strain along
its own axis,

using following equation :

X .cos 2 Y .sin 2 XY .cos sin

(7.60)

[ Note : For this particular loading case shear stress, XY, and hence shear strain,
XY, will both be Zero.]
D.

COMPARE with Experimental STRAIN :

At selected locations (strain gauges 1, 3 and 5), recall Experimental strains from
Results section and compare with above Theoretical strains.
Note re. Terminology used in Table overleaf : 3 , - 45 is the linear strain
0

in strain gauge No. 3, which is inclined at - 45 .

0

6 of 13

ANALYSIS SUMMARY TABLE :

REF.
A
A

OPEN CYLINDER - THEORY

QUANTITY
VALUE
UNITS

AXIAL X
HOOP Y

0
23.33
-106.92

(MPa)
(MPa)
(m/m)
(m/m)

1 , 00

324.02
-106.92

3 , - 450

108.53

(m/m)

5 , - 900

324.02

(m/m)

(m/m)

OPEN CYLINDER - EXPERIMENT

REF.
QUANTITY
VALUE
UNITS
D
(m/m)
-138
, 00
1

3 , - 450

121

(m/m)

5 , - 900

394

(m/m)

CLOSED CYLINDER - THEORY

REF.
QUANTITY
VALUE
UNITS
A
11.66
(MPa)
AXIAL X
A

HOOP Y

23.33
55.01

(MPa)
(m/m)
(m/m)

1 , 00

270.58
55.01

3 , - 450

162.79

(m/m)

5 , - 900

270.58

(m/m)

(m/m)

CLOSED CYLINDER - EXPERIMENT

REF.
QUANTITY
VALUE
UNITS
D
(m/m)
-141
, 00
1

3 , - 450

121

(m/m)

5 , - 900

398

(m/m)

7 of 13

DATA :
1 Microstrain = 10 -6 m/m or m/m
Cylinder dimensions :

Length = 400 mm ;

1 bar = 105 Pa
Outer diameter = 76 mm ;

Thickness = 3.0 mm.

Aluminium properties : Youngs Modulus, E = 72 GPa; Poissons ratio, = 0.33.

.

LABORATORY REPORT:
Type and edit your report using Microsoft Word (hand-written is not acceptable except for the sample
calculation). Email your individual Lab. Report to your demonstrator by due Date 1 week after
conducting Lab. Please scan your report and save whole report as one PDF file with a name of
Surname_Initial_Student ID_Lab2.pdf. Please see Study Guide or Blackboard for your
demonstrators email address. Also please refer to Unit of Study Outline for penalties etc.
The Report must include (in order):
(i) This 7 page handout as cover sheet /results for your report. (1 mark)
Experimental results should be recorded on page 5. Conduct analysis per enclosed
instructions for both open and closed cylinders and fill in summary of analysis in tables on
page 6.
(ii) Two Mohrs Circles of in-plane Stress (using theoretical values) to scale (one each for
open and closed cylinders). Use graph paper or computer software to plot all graphs. (1
mark)
(iii) Two Mohrs Circles of in-plane Strain (using experimental values) to scale (one each for
open and closed cylinders). Recall = 0 in this case. (1 mark)
(iv) Discussion and Conclusion. Compare theoretical strain results with those measured,
comment on potential sources of errors, and compare the open cylinder and closed
cylinders. The expected length of the Discussion is between half and one full page using 12
font size with 1.5 line space (200-400 words). (1 mark)
(v) Sample Calculations should be included in an Appendix, attached to the end. Only this
part can be hand-written neatly. (1 mark)
The report should be brief and to the point, it is not necessary to include diagrams or a procedure
unless directly relevant to your discussion.

Sample Calculation

8 of 13

9 of 13

Mohrs Circle ( Stress )

Mohrs Circle (Open cylinder)
Scale is in cm
X-axis is sheer stress & Y-axis is normal stress (MPa)
10 of 13

Principle stresses are 23.33 MPa and 0 MPa

Mohrs Cricle ( Closed cylinder )

Scale in cm
X-axis is Sheer stress & Y-axis is Normal stress (MPa)
Principle Stresses are 23.33 MPa and 11.66 MPa

Mohrs Circle ( Strain )

Mohrs Circle ( Open cylinder )
Scale in cm
X-axis is Sheer stress & Y-axis is Normal stress (MPa)
11 of 13

Principle Stresses are -138 MPa and 394 MPa

Mohrs Circle ( Closed cylinder)

Scale in cm
X-axis is Sheer stress & Y-axis is Normal stress (MPa)
Principle Stresses are -141 MPa and 398 MPa

12 of 13

Discussion
By looking at the numbers in the table, we can see that the theoretical values
and calculated values are not similar in both stress and strain for open and closed
cylinder thin wall vessel experiment. According to the result from above, we can see
that open cylinder comes out to have less error percentage than the closed cylinder.
However, our experiment error percentage minimum is 20% and the maximum is 50%.
Here is the list of the things that might have caused an error on our
experiment. First of all, I think fixing the gauge to an angle of 0 is needed precision and
we didnt achieve it. Second of all, we input the values wrong on the machine so that
our calculated result are nowhere near the experiment result. Finally, considering only
plane stresses and neglecting the radial stress which is sigma z=0 is also might be case.

Conclusion
In conclusion, we could say that our experiment has a lot of errors and
couldnt achieve the result we desire.
References
Class notes and for Mohrs Circle shown in above
http://www.ijee.ie/OnlinePapers/Interactive/Philpot/mohr_learning_tool.htm

13 of 13