Stress and strain in cylinders

Objectives of the experiment

Thick cylinder
1. To check the linearity of the strain gauges.
2. To find the hoop and radial strain in the cylinder and compare them with theoretical values.
3. To prove that the longitudinal strain in this Thick Cylinder is very small compared with the
other strain values.
4. To calculate the derived stresses (based on actual experimental strains) and compare them with
the theoretical stresses.
Thin cylinder
1. To check the linearity of the strain gauges in both end conditions.
2. To find the hoop stress and strain relationship (Young’s Modulus) for the cylinder material.
3. To compare the hoop stress and strain obtained with the theoretical ones (calculated by
equations).
4. To find the longitudinal and hoop strain relationship (Poisson’s Ratio) for the cylinder material.
5. To show how to draw and use a Mohr’s Circle.

Theoretical development
When a cylinder is pressurised internally, the principal stresses and their corresponding strains are as
follows:
σθ Hoop (or circumferential) stress εθ Hoop (or circumferential) strain
σR Radial stress εR Radial strain
σL Axial (or longitudinal) stress εL Axial (or longitudinal) strain

Thin cylinder
A cylinder is commonly considered as a thin-walled if the wall thickness is less than a twentieth of the
diameter. For a thin wall one may assume that the radial stress is small enough to be neglected and the
hoop and axial stresses do not vary across the wall. For a thin cylinder with closed ends using these
assumptions, the following formulae apply:

Stress Strain
𝑃𝑑 1
Hoop 𝜎 = 𝜀𝜃 = (𝜎 − 𝑣𝜎𝐿 )
2𝑡 𝐸
𝑃𝑑 1
Axial 𝜎𝐿 = 𝜀𝐿 = (𝜎𝐿 − 𝑣𝜎 )
4𝑡 𝐸

Where P is the internal pressure, d is the inside diameter and t is the wall thickness. If the ends are
open, the axial stress will be zero.
The principal strains of a thin cylinder can be
represented by Mohr’s circle. Hoop and axial are
the values of the principal strains. Where 𝑂 ⃗ 𝜀𝐿
is the minimum principal strain at right angles to
maximum value, 𝑂 ⃗ 𝜀𝜃 is the maximum principal
strain.

In the Mohr’s circle, the y-axis is shear strain, from

which one can find the shear stress. The maximum shear stress (and strain) occurs at 45 degree position.
The stresses on the principal planes are normal to these planes and are called ‘Principal stresses’.

Thick cylinder
The table gives formulae for stress and strain at a radius r in an open ended thick cylinder. Because the
ends are open, the axial stress is zero. Note that this does not mean that there will be no axial strain.

Stress Strain
𝐵 1
Hoop 𝜎 = 𝐴 + 𝜀𝜃 = (𝜎 − 𝑣𝜎𝑟 )
𝑟2 𝐸
𝜎𝑅 1
Radial 𝐵 𝜀𝑅 = (𝜎𝐿 − 𝑣𝜎 )
=𝐴− 𝐸
𝑟2
𝑣
Axial 𝜎𝐿 = 0 𝜀𝐿 = (𝜎 + 𝜎𝑟 )
𝐸 

A and B are constants which must be determined from a knowledge of the dimensions of the cylinder
and loading conditions (the radial stress is known at the inner and outer surfaces).

Experiment procedures
Ensure that both thin and thick cylinder machines are switched on and allowed to stabilise for at least
fifteen minutes before started the experiment. If you use VDAS with the cylinders, connect the
cylinder to the VDAS-B Interface and a computer.
Thin cylinder Thick cylinder
Take strain readings at intervals of 0.5MPa as (a) Take strain reading of gauge 1, 2 and 11 at
you pressurise the cylinder to a maximum of intervals of 1.0MPa as you pressurise the
3.0MPa. Do this for both end conditions. cylinder to a maximum of 7.0MPa. (Why
these three strain gauges to be
To set the end condition, first make sure the
considered?)
cylinder is unpressurised, by unscrewing the
(b) Take the strain readings for each gauge at
handwheel until the gauge reads zero. For
7MPa.
open ends, screw in the end adjuster as far as
it will go. For closed ends, unscrew the end
adjuster.
Make sure both cylinders are unpressurised when you have finished.
Necessary data (For theoretical calculation only)
For thick cylinder apparatus, take E = 73GPa and υ = 0.33
For thin cylinder apparatus, take E = 69GPa and υ = 0.33

Useful equations
 Stress = Force / Area Young’s
 Young’s Modulus = Stress / strain Stress Poisson’s ratio
Modulus
 Poisson’s ratio is the ratio of ‘transverse’ 𝐹 𝜎 𝜖𝐿 strain
in a material against longitudinal strain 𝜎= 𝐸= 𝜐=−
𝐴 𝜀 𝜖𝐻

Presentation of results
Thin cylinder:
(a) Plot a graph to find the experimental Young’s Modulus and Poisson’s Ratio (Open ended only).
Compare with data given in this laboratory book. If there any difference, can you think of the causes
of error? If the cylinder had been made of steel material, what would expect the strain value?
(b) Plot strain against pressure for all six strain gauges for both end conditions. What does this tell you?
(c) Draw an actual Mohr’s strain circle based on principal strains for both end conditions. Calculate the
actual shear strain at different angles. Compare the theoretical Mohr’s strain circle.

Thick cylinder
(a) Plot strain against pressure for selected strain gauges.
(b) Plot graph of variation of theoretical and experimental value of hoop and radial stresses and strains
through the cylinder wall.

Things to consider
• How do your experimental values compare with those suggested by theory? What does this tell
you?
• How accurate are your results? What are the likely sources of error? How big an effect could
they have on the values you have calculated?
• How great is the error caused by the assumptions in the thin cylinder analysis? How could this
be eliminated?
• Why might a particular type of cylinder be used in preference to the other?
• What conclusions can you draw from your results?

Additional documents (electronic pdf versions are on Canvas)

 Thin Cylinder User Guide
 Thick Cylinder User Guide

Further reading
P.P. Benham and R.J. Crawford, ‘Mechanics of engineering materials’, Longman, pp 43-46 and 392-
405.
G.H. Ryder, ‘Strength of materials’, Macmillan, pp 259-283.
F.P. Beer and E.R. Johnston, ‘Mechanics of materials’, McGraw-Hill, pp 377-379.
J.M. Gere and S.P. Timoshenko, ‘Mechanics of materials’, Chapman and Hall, pp 411-416.