Stress in Cylindrical Shell

Uniform internal or external pressure induces in the longitudinal seam a unit stress two times larger than in the circumferential seam because of the geometry of the cylinder. A vessel under external pressure, when other forces (wind, earthquake, etc.) are not factors, must be designed to resist the circumferential buckling only. The Code provides the method of design to meet this requirement. When other loadings are present, these combined loadings may govern and heavier plate thickness will be required than the plate which was satisfactory to resist the circumferential buckling only. The derived formulas below give the compression stress due to external pressure and tension due to internal pressure. Circumferential Joint
(Longitudinal Stress)

Longitudinal Joint
(Circumferential-hoop- Stress)

S1

S2

F PL = VPL * A Pressure force = P * S D2/4 Resisting force = S * S D t By equating tow forces, ? P * S D2/4 = S * S D t

F PH = VPH * A Pressure force = P * L D Resisting force = S * 2 L t By equating tow forces, ? P*LD=S*2Lt

If a joint efficiency E is included for the circumferential weld to modify the allowable stress,

? t

P *D 4S

?t
t

P *D 2S
P *D 2 SE

P *D 4 SE

These thin wall (membrane) formulas are limited to thickness not to exceed one-half of the inside radius and to a pressure not to exceed 1.25 SE. When these limits are exceeded, the formulas for thick-wall or Lame equations shall be used.
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UG-27 Thickness of Shells Under Internal Pressure

(In terms of inside diameter) Where, t = Min. required thickness of shell, in. R = Inside radius of shell, in. P = Internal design pressure, or max. allowable working pressure (taking into consideration the static head of fluid), psi S = Max. allowable stress of shell material, psi E = Min. joint efficiency, percent

(c) Cylindrical Shells :

1. Circumferential (hoop) Stress (Longitudinal Joints) t < 0.5 R or P < 0.385 SE 2. Longitudinal Stress (Circumferential Joints) t < 0.5 R or P < 1.25 SE
PR SE - 0.6 P

t=

(1)

t=

PR 2SE + 0.4 P

(2)

(d) Spherical Shells :

t < 0.356 R or P < 0.665 SE

t=

PR 2 SE - 0.2 P

(3)

Figure 1-4 Principal Dimensions of Typical Heads

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UG-32 Formed Heads, and Sections, Pressure on Concave Side

where, t = Min. required thickness of head, in. D = Inside dia. of head skirt, in. P = Internal design pressure, or max. allowable working pressure (taking into consideration the static head of fluid), psi S = Max. allowable stress of shell material, psi [APP. 1-4(b)] L = Inside spherical or crown radius = K1 D, in. K1= Spherical radius factor, [see Table UG-37]

(d) Ellipsoidal Heads :

where, K = Factor depends on ratio of major to minor axis D/2h [see Table 1-4.1] 2 [APP. 1-4(c)] = 1/6 [2 + (D/2h) ]
t= PDK 2SE - 0.2 P

(1)

(e) Torispherical Heads :

[For knuckle radius 6% L and L = OD of skirt]

Torispherical heads made of materials having a specified min. tensile strength > 80 000 psi, shall be designed using S = 20 000 psi at room temp. and reduced in proportion to the reduction in max. allowable stress values at temp. for the material.
[see UG-23)]

t=

0.885 P L SE - 0.1 P

(2)

(f) Hemispherical Heads :

t < 0.356 L or P < 0.665 SE

t=

PR 2SE -0.2 P

(3)

(g) Conical Heads and Sections :

where a = 0.5 induced angle of cone at center line of the head, and a < 30 deg.
t= PD 2 cos a (SE - 0.6 P)

(4)

(h) Toriconical Heads and Sections :

The required thickness of the conical portion (knuckle radius > 6% OD of head skirt & > 3 knuckle thk.) shall be determined by Formula (4) of UG-32 (g) above, using Di in place of D. The required thickness of the knuckle shall be determined by Formula (3) of Appendix 1-4(d) in which, L = Di /(2 cos a), in. Lo = Outside spherical or crown radius, in. Di = ID of conical portion = D -2 r (1- cos a), in. r = Inside knuckle radius, in. M = 1/4 [ 3 +L/r ] [Table 1-4.2]
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t=

P Di 2 cos a (SE - 0.6 P)

t= and
t=

P LM 2SE - 0.2 P

P Lo M 2SE + P (M 0.2)
[App. 1-4(d)]

APPENDIX-1 Supplementary Design Formulas

1.1 Thickness of Cylindrical and Spherical Shells under Internal Pressure, in terms of outside diameter.
Where, t = Min. required thickness of shell, in. D = ID of head skirt, or inside length of the major axis of ellipsoidal head, or ID of cone head, in. Do = OD of head skirt or outside length of the major axis of ellipsodal head, or OD of a cone, in. Ro = Do / 2, in. P = Internal design pressure, or max. allowable working pressure (taking into consideration the static head of fluid), psi S = Max. allowable stress of shell material, psi

(1) For Cylindrical Shells :

t= PRo SE + 0.4 P

(1)

(2) For Spherical Shells :

t= PRo 2 SE + 0.8 P

(3)

1.4 Formulas for the Design of Formed Heads under Internal Pressure, in terms of outside diameter.
(c) Ellipsoidal Heads1 :
Where, K = 1/6[2+(D/2h)2] h = 0.5 minor axis of ellipsoidal head, in.
t= t= P D K 2 SE 0.2 P

(1)

and

P Do K 2 SE + 2 P (K 0.1)

(2)

(d) Torispherical Heads :

Where, Lo = Outside spherical or crown radius, in. M = 1/4 [ 3 +L/r ] [Table 1-4.2] L/r = Ratio of inside crown radius to the inside knuckle radius, in.
t=

t=

P LM 2 SE - 0.2 P

(3)

and
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P Lo M 2 SE + P (M 0.2)

(4)

(f) Conical Heads :

t= PD 2 cos (SE - 0.6 P) (5)

and

t=

P Do 2 cos (SE + 0.4 P) (6)

1 Ellipsoidal heads designed under K > 1.0 and all torispherical heads made of materials having a specified min. tensile strength > 80 000 psi shall be designed using a value of S = 20 000 psi at room temp. and reduced in proportion to the reduction in max. allowable stress values at temp. for the material as shown in the appropriate table (see UG-23).

APPENDIX-1 Supplementary Design Formulas

1.2 Thick Cylindrical Shells under Internal Pressure, in terms of inside and outside diameters.
Where, t = R = Ro = P = Min. required thickness of shell, in. Inside radius of shell course under consideration, in. Outside radius of shell course under consideration, in. Internal design pressure, or max. allowable working pressure (taking into consideration the static head of fluid), psi S = Max. allowable stress of shell material, psi

(a)(1) Circumferential Stress (longitudinal joints) :

t > 0.5 R or P > 0.385 SE
t = R (Z 1/2 1) = Ro (Z1/2 1) Z1/2 SE + P where, Z = SE - P

(2) longitudinal Stress (circumferential joints) :

t > 0.5 R or P > 1.25 SE
t = R (Z1/2 1) = Ro where, Z = (Z1/2 1) Z1/2

P +1 SE

1.3 Thick Spherical Shells under Internal Pressure, in terms of inside and outside diameters.
For wholly spherical vessel and hemispherical head :
t > 0.356 R or P > 0.665 SE
t = R(Y1/3 1) = Ro ( Y1/3 1 ) Y1/3 2 (S E + P) where, Y = 2 SE - P

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