The Design of Pressure Windows
Notes to calculate thickness of optical windows used in vacuum or pressure applications
DEFINITIONS
The maximum stress Smax on a uniformly loaded window is given by: Smax = Maximum stress
Smax = ( K . D2 . P ) / ( 4 . T2 ) and also Smax = Fa / SF (See Safety Factor Box) SF = Safety Factor
and then solving for thickness T Fa = Apparent Elastic Limit
T = D. ( SF . K / 4 ) . ( P /Fa ) (CIRCULAR WINDOWS)
= or Rupture Modulus
K = Empirical Constant
T = L . ( SF . K / 2 ) . ( P / ( Fa . ( 1 + R ))) (RECTANGULAR WINDOWS)
2
D = Unsupported Ø for
circular window
L,W = Length & Width for
rectangular window
R = L/W
T = Thickness of window
P = Load per unit area
Unclamped, Smax at centre Clamped, Smax at edge
CLAMPED CONSTANT K
Circular Window (Safety Factor of 4 & Kc = 0.75) The value of K depends on the
method of support, upon the
T = 0.866 D ( P / Fa ) force introduced in clamping
Rectangular Window (Safety Factor of 4 & Kc = 0.75) and upon the brittle / ductile
character of the window material
T = 1.23 L ( P / ( Fa . ( 1 + R2 ))) involved.
UNCLAMPED Empirically, a K value of 0.75 is
Circular Window (Safety Factor of 4 & Ku = 1.125) found suitable for most optical
crystals when the perimeter is
T = 1.06 D ( P / Fa ) clamped, and a value 50%
Rectangular Window (Safety Factor of 4 & Ku = 1.125) greater when unclamped.
T = 1.50 L ( P / ( Fa . ( 1 + R2 ))) Kc = 0.75
Ku = 1.125
SAFETY FACTOR
To avoid plastic deformation, the maximum stress (Smax ) should be less than the Apparent Elastic Limit (Fa) by an appropriate
Safety Factor (SF)
Smax = Fa / SF
A modest safety factor of 4 (i.e., maximum stress equals one quarter of the elastic limit) seems to suffice for many laboratory
applications where the operating conditions are reasonably under control. Severe conditions such as thermal shock require
special consideration and may even result in a decision to use a reduced thickness. The published Apparent Elastic Limit of
some materials may not be completely reliable. Crystals vary and cleavage may occur according to grain boundaries or the
particular cut of the ingot. Ultimately, the final design thickness must be a carefully considered decision and may need to be
empirically tested. Crystran Ltd can accept no responsibilty for the adoption of these calculations and recommendations.
CRYSTRAN LTD
1 Broom Road Business Park, Poole, Dorset, UK BH12 4PA
TEL: +44 1202 307650 FAX +44 1202 307651
Email: [email protected] www.crystran.co.uk Crystran Ltd October 2014
The Design of Pressure Windows
Worked Examples
COMMON APPARENT ELASTIC LIMITS
Al2O3 (Sapphire) = 276Mpa = 45000psi
CaF2 window 50mm Ø with 1 atmosphere P.D BaF2 = 26.9MPa = 3900psi
Safety factor of 4 BK7 glass = 63.5Mpa = 9210psi
T = 2.8mm unclamped CaF2 = 36.5MPa = 5300psi
T = 2.3mm clamped Germanium = 89.6MPa = 13000psi
KRS5 = 26.2Mpa = 3800psi
CaF2 window 52mm x 20mm with 1 atmosphere P.D LiF = 11.2MPa = 1620psi
MgF2 = 49.6MPa = 7200psi
Safety factor of 4
Silica glass = 55.0Mpa = 7980psi
T = 1.5mm unclamped ZnS (FLIR) = 103.4MPa = 15000psi
T = 1.2mm clamped ZnSe = 55.1MPa = 8000psi
Sapphire window 25mm Ø with 3800 psi P.D
Safety factor of 4
NORMAL ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
T = 7.7mm unclamped
T = 6.3mm clamped Traditionally measured in:
With sapphire, for pressures above 500psi it is recommended (1) pounds/sq inch 14.7 psi
to use windows with the axis of the crystal parallel to the axis (2) inches of mercury 29.9213"
(3) mm of mercury 760 mm
of the window. (Perpendicular to the surface) (4) millibar 1013.240 mBar
Now measured in SI units:
KRS5 window 40 Ø with 1 atmosphere P.D (5) Pascals 101.324 kPa
Safety factor of 4
(2) and (3) are straightforward measures of a
T = 2.6mm unclamped
column of mercury supported by 1 atmosphere.
T = 2.2mm clamped
1" = 25.4mm 1mm = 0.03937"
Fused silica window 100mm Ø with 1000 kPa P.D
Safety factor of 10 (4) and (5) are actual measures of pressure
T = 22.6mm unclamped (force/area) and take account of the density of
T = 18.5mm clamped mercury (13.595gm/cc at 0ºdegC) and the
acceleration due to gravity (980.665 cm/sec2) when
converting from a mercury barometer reference.
ZnSe window 80mm Ø with 1 atmosphere P.D
Safety factor of 4 Pressure at 1 atmosphere
T = 3.6mm unclamped = 0.76m x 13595 kgm.m-3 x 9.80665 m . s-1
T = 3.0mm clamped = 101324 Pa (N/m2) (m-1.kgm.s-1)
= 101.324kPa
NOTES:
A carefully designed window may still break before any significant loading if the mounting
introduces any localised stress.
Mismatch of expansion coefficients generally dictates the use of resilient material between window
and mounting.
Thermal outgassing used in UHV systems should be undertaken with caution with crystal windows as
thermal shock may initial cleavage in some crystals
The constant for clamped mounting allows for no flexure at the wall. The use of soft gaskets may
allow flexure so the formula for the "unclamped" condition should be used.
CRYSTRAN LTD
1 Broom Road Business Park, Poole, Dorset, UK BH12 4PA
TEL: +44 1202 307650 FAX +44 1202 307651
Email: [email protected] www.crystran.co.uk Crystran Ltd October 2014
