STRENGTH OF

MATERIALS
THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
Prepared by ENGR. DENNIS C. LOPEZ
CIVIL ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT
STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
(Mechanics of Deformable Bodies)
 3
THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
LEARNING OUTCOMES
This course module deals with problems that
involves thin-walled cylinder. Stress formulas
and sample problems are presented here to
give students clear understanding about the
topic.
At the end of this module, students should be
able to:
• Compute for the maximum pressure that a
thin-walled cylinder can safely withstand.
• Design simple dimensions such as length,
thickness or diameter of thin-walled cylinder
based on the design stress of the material.
• Decide whether a thin-walled cylinder is safe
or not against internal pressure.

Prepared by ENGR. DENNIS C. LOPEZ

THIN-WALLED CYLINDER DEFINED
• Thin-walled cylinder is a term used to denote hollow cylindrical
structure, usually made with metallic materials such as aluminum,
iron and steel.
• Example is a tank or pipe that carries liquid or gas. It is subjected to
pressure due to the weight or movement of liquid and gas.
• To classify as thin-walled cylinder, the inner radius “r” is 10 times
greater than the thickness of the wall.
𝑟
𝑟 > 10𝑡 𝑜𝑟 > 10
𝑡
• If the inner radius “r” is equal to 10 times the thickness of the wall,
then the predicted stress can be up to 4% less than the actual stress.
𝑟
𝑟 = 10𝑡 𝑜𝑟 = 10
𝑡
Source: priodeep.weebly.com

Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez 4

 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
DEFINITION OF TERMS
• Pressure – is the intensity of external force exerted on a surface of the
body. The resisting area is perpendicular to the applied force.
𝐹
𝑝=
𝐴

• Hydrostatic Pressure – pressure caused by the weight of the liquid inside

Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

a tank or container. The deeper the location is in the tank or container,

the greater the hydrostatic pressure is.
• Hydrostatic force – the resultant force caused by the hydrostatic
pressure which exerted on the walls of storage tanks, dams and ships.

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
FUNDAMENTALS OF THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
• From Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion, for liquid or gas in a state of equilibrium:
𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎 = 𝑚𝑔

• Hydrostatic Pressure:
𝐹 𝑚𝑔
𝑝= =
𝐴 𝐴
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

• If density (ρ) of the liquid is given:

𝐹 𝜌𝑔𝑉
𝑝= =
𝐴 𝐴

Source: sciencing.com

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
FUNDAMENTALS OF THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
TANGENTIAL STRESS Figure 1: Hydrostatic Pressure in Tank
• Tangential stress is the stress of the wall of
the cylinder when the cylinder is filled with
liquid.
• Figure 1a shows the FBD of the bottom part
of the cylinder when cutting plain is applied
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

to the tank shown in Figure 1.

• Projected area that resists the effect of the
push of the liquid (represented by F) to the
wall of cylinder is A = DL.
Figure 1a: Tangential Stress

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
FUNDAMENTALS OF THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
TANGENTIAL STRESS
Figure 1: Hydrostatic Pressure in Tank
• Hydrostatic Pressure:
𝐹
𝑝=
𝐴
• Hydrostatic Force:
𝐹 = 𝑝𝐴 = 𝑝𝐷𝐿
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

• The tensile forces (T) are the reactions of the walls of

the cylinder against the hydrostatic force F = 2T.
• Tangential Stress (Tensile Stress):
𝑇 𝐹 𝑝𝐷𝐿 𝑝𝐷
𝜎= = = =
𝑡𝐿 2𝑡𝐿 2𝑡𝐿 2𝑡 Figure 1a: Tangential Stress

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
FUNDAMENTALS OF THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
LONGITUDINAL STRESS
• The hydrostatic force F in Figure 1c is equal to the
total longitudinal reaction of the wall.
𝜋𝐷2
𝐹 = 𝑝𝐴 = 𝑝
4

𝐹 = 𝑃𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

𝐴𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝜋𝐷𝑡
𝑃𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙
𝜎=
𝐴𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙
𝐹 𝜋𝐷2 𝑝𝐷 Figure 1c: Longitudinal Stress
𝜎= =𝑝 =
𝜋𝐷𝑡 4𝜋𝐷𝑡 4𝑡

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM
PROBLEM 1
A cylinder steel tank has a thickness of
20 mm. The length of the tank is 4
meters and diameter is 1.80 meters as
shown in Figure 2. Compute the
following:
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

A. Stress in the steel wall if the cylinder

is completely filled with liquid whose
density is 748.90 kg/m³.
B. Hydrostatic pressure acting on the
wall of the steel tank.
Figure 2: Cylinder Tank

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
PROBLEM 1 SOLUTION
• The density of the liquid is 748.90 kg/m³.
• Hydrostatic force is,

𝐹 = 𝜌𝑔𝐴ℎ
𝑘𝑔 𝑚 𝜋 1.80 𝑚 2
𝐹 = (748.90 3 )(9.81 ) (4 𝑚)
𝑚 𝑠𝑒𝑐.2 4
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

𝐹 = 74,780.39 𝑁

• Tensile force acting in the wall,

𝐹 = 2𝑇
𝐹 74,780.39 𝑁
𝑇= = = 37,390.20 𝑁 Figure 2a: Cross-section of the Cylinder Tank
2 2
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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
PROBLEM 1 SOLUTION
• Tensile force,
𝑇 = 37,390.20 𝑁
• Area of the wall,
𝐴 = 𝑡𝐻
• Tangential stress in the wall,
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

𝑇 𝑇 37,390.20 𝑁
𝜎= = =
𝐴 𝑡𝐻 (200 𝑚𝑚)(4,000 𝑚𝑚)
𝜎 = 0.05 𝑀𝑃𝑎
Figure 2a: Cross-section of the Cylinder Tank

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
PROBLEM 1 SOLUTION
• The hydrostatic force is,
𝐹 = 74,780.39 𝑁
• Check using the derived formula,
𝐹 𝐹
𝜎= =
2𝑡𝐿 2𝑡𝐻
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

74,780.39 𝑁
𝜎=
2(200 𝑚𝑚)(4,000 𝑚𝑚)

𝜎 = 0.05 𝑀𝑃𝑎 Figure 2a: Cross-section of the Cylinder Tank

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
PROBLEM 1 SOLUTION
• The hydrostatic force is,
𝐹 = 74,780.39 𝑁
• The hydrostatic pressure is,
𝐹 𝐹
𝑝= =
𝐴 𝐷𝐻
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

74,780.39 𝑁
𝑝=
(1,800 𝑚𝑚)(4,000 𝑚𝑚)

𝑝 = 0.01 𝑀𝑃𝑎 Figure 2a: Cross-section of the Cylinder Tank

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM
PROBLEM 2
Design the thickness of the
cylinder tank in Figure 3 if it is to
be filled with oil whose density is
790 kg/m³. The maximum axial
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

stress of the material is 70 MPa.

Steel tank dimensions are D = 2.5
m and L = 4 m.
Figure 3: Cylinder Tank

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
PROBLEM 2 SOLUTION
• Steel tank dimensions are D = 2.5 m and L
= 4 m.
• The density of the liquid is 790 kg/m³.
• Hydrostatic force is,
𝐹 = 𝜌𝑔𝐴𝐿
𝐹
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

𝑘𝑔 𝑚 𝜋 2.5 𝑚 2
= (790 3 )(9.81 2
) (4 𝑚)
𝑚 𝑠𝑒𝑐. 4

𝐹 = 152,168.93 𝑁
Figure 3a: Cross-section of the Cylinder Tank

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
PROBLEM 2 SOLUTION
• Hydrostatic force, F = 152,168.93 𝑁
• Steel tank dimensions are L = 4 m.
• Maximum axial stress of steel,
𝜎 = 70 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝐹
𝜎=
2𝑡𝐿
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

𝐹 152,168.93 𝑁
𝑡= =
2𝐿𝜎 2(4,000 𝑚𝑚) 70 𝑁
𝑚𝑚2

𝑡 = 0.27 𝑚𝑚 Figure 3a: Cross-section of the Cylinder Tank

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM
PROBLEM 3
The cylinder tank shown in Figure 4 has
21 longitudinal bolts to fastened the
rolled steel into cylinder. If the density of
the liquid to be carried by the tank is 850
kg/m³, compute the minimum diameter
of each bolt. The maximum shear stress
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

of each bolt is limited to 60 MPa.

Steel tank dimensions are D = 2.0 m, t =
10 mm and L = 4 m.
Figure 4: Cylinder Tank

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
PROBLEM 3 SOLUTION
• Steel tank dimensions are D = 2.0 m, t = 10
mm and L = 4 m.
𝑘𝑔
• Density of liquid, 𝜌 = 850 3 .
𝑚
• Hydrostatic force is,
𝐹 = 𝜌𝑔𝐴𝐿
𝑘𝑔 𝑚 𝜋 2𝑚 2
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

𝐹 = (850 3 )(9.81 2
) (4 𝑚)
𝑚 𝑠𝑒𝑐. 4

𝐹 = 104,784.68 𝑁
Figure 4a: Cross-section of the Cylinder Tank

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
PROBLEM 3 SOLUTION
• Hydrostatic force, 𝐹 =
104,784.68 𝑁
• Tensile force acting in the
wall,
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

𝐹 = 2𝑇
𝐹 104,784.68 𝑁
𝑇= =
2 2
𝑇 = 52,392.34 𝑁 Figure 4a: Cross-section of the Cylinder Tank

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
PROBLEM 3 SOLUTION
• Tensile force acting in the wall, 𝑇 =
52,392.34 𝑁.
• The collective bolts reaction to force T
is, 𝑉 = 52,392.34 𝑁.
• Shear stress of a bolt is 𝜏 = 60 𝑀𝑃𝑎.
𝑉
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

𝜏=
𝐴
𝑉
𝐴=
2
𝜏 Figure 4b: Longitudinal Bolts Reaction
𝜋𝑑 𝑉
=
4 𝜏
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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
PROBLEM 3 SOLUTION
• Tensile force acting in the wall, 𝑇 =
52,392.34 𝑁.
• The collective bolts reaction to force T is,
𝑉 = 52,392.34 𝑁.
• Shear stress of a bolt is 𝜏 = 60 𝑀𝑃𝑎.
52,392.34
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

4𝑉 4( )
𝑑= = 21
𝜏𝜋 (60)𝜋
Figure 4b: Longitudinal Bolts Reaction
𝑑 = 7.27 𝑚𝑚

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
PROBLEM 3 SOLUTION
• Tensile force acting in the wall, 𝑇 =
52,392.34 𝑁.
• The collective bolts reaction to force T is, 𝑉 =
52,392.34 𝑁.
• Shear stress of a bolt is 𝜏 = 60 𝑀𝑃𝑎.
𝜋𝑑 2 𝑉
=
4 𝜏
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

4𝑉
𝑑2 =
𝜏𝜋
4𝑉
𝑑= Figure 4b: Longitudinal Bolts Reaction
𝜏𝜋

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM
PROBLEM 4
If the hydrostatic pressure exerted
by the liquid inside the tank
shown in Figure 5 is 5 MPa,
determine the tangential stress
and longitudinal stress in the wall
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

of the cylinder.
Steel tank dimensions are D = 3 m,
t = 15 mm and L = 6 m.
Figure 5: Cylinder Tank

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
PROBLEM 4 SOLUTION
• Steel tank dimensions are D = 3 m, t = 15
mm and L = 6 m.
• Hydrostatic pressure is p = 5 MPa.
• Compute the tangential stress using the
formula,
𝑝𝐷
𝜎𝑇 =
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

2𝑡
(5 𝑀𝑃𝑎)(3 𝑥 103 𝑚𝑚)
𝜎𝑇 =
2(15 𝑚𝑚)

𝜎𝑇 = 500 𝑀𝑃𝑎 Figure 5a: Cross-section of the Cylinder Tank

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
PROBLEM 4 SOLUTION
• Steel tank dimensions are D = 3 m, t = 15
mm and L = 6 m.
• Hydrostatic pressure is p = 5 MPa.
• Compute the longitudinal stress using the
formula,
𝑝𝐷
𝜎𝐿 =
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

4𝑡
(5 𝑀𝑃𝑎)(3 𝑥 103 𝑚𝑚)
𝜎𝐿 =
4(15 𝑚𝑚)
Figure 5b: Longitudinal Stress
𝜎𝐿 = 250 𝑀𝑃𝑎 of the Cylinder Tank

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM
PROBLEM 5
Design the thickness of the spherical
container if the liquid inside the sphere
exerts 4 MPa of pressure to the wall.
The inside diameter of the sphere is 5
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

m and the allowable stress of the

sphere is 120 MPa.
Express the thickness in whole number. Figure 6: Spherical Container

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
PROBLEM 5 SOLUTION
• The hydrostatic force F in Figure 6 is equal to
the total reaction of the wall.
𝜋𝐷2
𝐹 = 𝑝𝐴 = 𝑝
4
𝐹 = 𝑃𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙
𝐴𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝜋𝐷𝑡
𝑃𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙
𝜎=
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

𝐴𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙
𝐹 𝜋𝐷2
𝜎= =𝑝
𝜋𝐷𝑡 4𝜋𝐷𝑡
𝑝𝐷
𝜎=
4𝑡
Figure 6a: Cross-section of the Spherical Container

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
PROBLEM 5 SOLUTION
• The hydrostatic pressure is p = 4 MPa, the
diameter of the sphere is 5 meters and
the allowable stress of the sphere is 120
MPa.
• Compute the thickness of the wall:
𝑝𝐷
𝜎=
4𝑡 3
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

𝑝𝐷 (4 𝑀𝑃𝑎)(5 𝑥 10 𝑚𝑚)
𝑡= = = 41.66
4𝜎 4(120 𝑀𝑃𝑎)

𝑡 = 42 𝑚𝑚
Figure 6a: Cross-section of the Spherical Container

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
ONLINE RESOURCES
• https://www.mathalino.com/reviewer/mechanics-and-strength-of-
materials/thin-walled-pressure-vessels
• https://www.mathalino.com/reviewer/mechanics-and-strength-of-
materials/shear-stress
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja03J1RQ3Hw
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCzTBm2xFwg
Prepared by ENGR. DENNIS C. LOPEZ

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWwSpbs49XA
• https://pixabay.com/
• https://unsplash.com/

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 THIN-WALLED CYLINDER
REFERENCES
• Gere, James & Goodno, Barry (2013). Mechanics of
materials. 8th Edition: Cengage Learning
• Pytel, Andrew & Kiusalaas, Jaan (2012). Strength of
materials. 2nd Edition: Cengage Learning
Prepared by ENGR. DENNIS C. LOPEZ

• Hibbeler, R.C. (1993). Strength of Materials. Macmillan

• Beer, Ferdinand P. (2012). Mechanics of materials. Mc-
Graw-Hill Education

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Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

THIN-WALLED CYLINDER

END

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