UTS, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering

43014 Applied Mechanics and Design B

BIAXIAL STRESS IN A HYDRAULIC CYLINDER

Pressurised Cylinder With Open & Closed Ends

1 OBJECTIVES
1.1 To verify the theory of transformation of strain.
1.2 To verify thin walled cylindrical pressure vessel theory.
1.3 To apply yield criteria to predict onset of yield.

2 EQUIPMENT
The thin walled cylinder apparatus is a hydraulically pressurised cylinder made by
the aged aluminium alloy 6063. Open and closed end conditions are controlled by a
thrust knob on the front of the cylinder.
As shown in Figure 1, when the thrust knob is “wound in” against the piston, the
pressure force on the piston is reacted by the external frame and there is no axial load
on the cylinder walls. This is known as open end conditions. As shown in Figure 2,
when the thrust knob is “wound out”, the pressure force on the piston is reacted by
the cylinder and an axial stress is developed in the cylinder walls. This is known as
closed end conditions.
Foil-type strain gauges are bonded to the cylinder as shown in Figure 3. For all
gauges, the gauge factor is 1.8 to 2.2 and the gauge length is about 6mm. In this
experiment, the gauge factor has been set into the electronic circuits, so you do not
need to allow for it in your readings.
The cylinder dimensions are shown on the equipment, as O/D__________mm and
wall thickness__________mm.

3 THEORY
As wall thickness/internal radius < 1/10, the cylinder may be treated as “thin-walled”.
The hoop stress and the longitudinal stress are therefore assumed to be reasonably
uniform over the wall thickness. For a description of thin walled pressure vessels
theory see Hibbeler Chapter 8.
Biaxial Stress – Hydraulic Cylinder with Open and Closed Ends 2

Using thin shell theory, the in-plane principal stresses in a pressurised cylinder are:
Hoop stress, σ H = σ 1 longitudinal (axial) stress, σ L = σ 2
For both open and closed end conditions the hoop stress is given by:
σ H = p d/2 t ......................................................(1)
where: p = pressure inside cylinder
d = cylinder internal diameter
t = wall thickness of cylinder
The longitudinal stress is dependent upon the end condition.

3.1 Open End Condition σ L = 0 ...........................(2)

In this condition the axial thrust on the piston in the ends of the cylinder is carried by
the external frame. This means that the cylinder has no effective axial constraint and
the longitudinal (axial) components of stress, σ L , is zero. From Hooke’s Law, the
hoop and longitudinal strains are thus:

ε H = ε 90 = σ H / E .........................................................(3)
o

ε L = ε 0o = −ν σ H / E ......................................................(4)
(Note that although the longitudinal stress is zero, the longitudinal strain is not.)

Dividing (4) by (3) gives Poisson’s Ratio:

ν = − (ε L / ε H ) ................................................................(5)

3.2 Closed End Condition σ L = p d / 4 t ..................(6)

In this condition the axial thrust from the pistons is carries by the cylinder wall thus
producing a longitudinal (axial ) stress in the cylinder.

For closed ends, the hoop and longitudinal strains are thus:
ε H = ε 90 = (σ H −νσ L ) / E ………….………………….(7)


ε L = ε 0 = (σ L −νσ H ) / E ………………………………(8)

4 TEST PROCEDURE
4.1 Open End
(i) Record the inner and outer diameters of the pressure vessel.
(ii) Set the cylinder to the “Open End” condition. (Bleed out all pressure then
wind the thrust knob completely “in”.)
(iii) Verify that the strain bridge is properly connected and balanced.
Biaxial Stress – Hydraulic Cylinder with Open and Closed Ends 3

(iv) Pump up the pressure to 1 MPa and hold the pressure constant by gently
operating the pump lever.
(v) Read the strain on gauges at 0º and 90º.
(vi) Repeat steps (iii) and (iv) for pressures of 2 and 3 MPa.
(vii) Plot the readings of strain versus pressure and from lines of best fit, determine
the strains at a pressure of 2.5 MPa.

4.2 Closed End

(i) Set the cylinder to the “Closed End” condition. (Bleed pressure and wind the
thrust knob completely “out”.)
(ii) Balance the strain bridge.
(iii) Pump up the pressure to 1 MPa and hold the pressure constant by gently
operating the pump lever.
(iv) Read the strain on all six gauges.
(v) Repeat steps (iii) and (iv) for pressures of 2 and 3 MPa.

5 RESULTS
Open End micro strain
p (MPa) ε0 o ε 90 o

Closed End micro strain

Gauge 1 Gauge 2 Gauge3 Gauge 4 Gauge 5 Gauge 6

p (MPa)

3
Biaxial Stress – Hydraulic Cylinder with Open and Closed Ends 4

Figure 1. Open Ends Conditions

Figure. 2. Closed Ends Conditions

Figure. 3. Strain Gauge Positions

Biaxial Stress – Hydraulic Cylinder with Open and Closed Ends 5

Sections 6, 7 and 8 below to be done individually or as a group of up to five

6 CALCULATIONS
6.1 Open End
Plot the readings of strain versus pressure and from lines of best fit, determine the
strains at a pressure of 2.5 MPa. Using ε 90 (= ε H ), ε 0 (= ε L ) and equation (5), calculate
o o

Poisson’s Ratio. Using equations (1) and (3), calculate E and ν .

6.2 Closed End

(i) Plot the readings of strain versus pressure and from lines of best fit, determine
the strains at a pressure of 2.5 MPa.
(ii) Using equations (1), (6), (7) and (8) and the values of E and ν obtained in 6.1,
for p = 2.5 MPa calculate theoretical values for ε 1 (= ε H ) and ε 2 (= ε L ) .
(iii) Use the theoretical values ε 1 (= ε H ) and ε 2 (= ε L ) calculated in (ii) above to plot
Mohr’s Circle of Strain. Using the strain transformation equation and/or Mohr’s
circle, transform these strains to strains at 30o, 45o and 60o and plot them on
Mohr’s Circle of Strain.
(iv) Use the measured values ε 90 (= ε H ), ε 0 (= ε L ) to plot Mohr’s Circle of Strain.
o o

Using the strain transformation equation and/or Mohr’s circle, transform these
strains to strains at 30o, 45o and 60o and plot them on Mohr’s Circle of Strain.

6.3 Yield analysis

For both open and closed ends, and assuming a yield stress of 300 MPa what
pressure is predicted to cause yield of the cylinder, using:

i) The Tresca max. shear stress criterion;

ii) The von-Mises max. distortion strain energy criterion.

(For a description of plane stress failure theory see Hibbeler Ch. 10)

7 ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

7.1 Compare the test results for ν and E with published values. Are the values
realistic for aluminium? Try to explain any discrepancies between test and
published results.
7.2 Compare the strains calculated from theory in 6.2(ii) with the measured “best
fit” values at 0o ,30o, 45o, 60o and 90o obtained from the strain gauges in 6.2(i).
How well do the strain results transform with Mohr’s Circle? Comment on the
parameters which could influence the accuracy of the transformation.
Biaxial Stress – Hydraulic Cylinder with Open and Closed Ends 6

7.3 Explain why the measurements of strain are taken over a range of pressures and
the “best fit” values used?
7.4 How does the failure pressure compare for the different Yield Criteria?
Comment on any similarities/differences. How does the failure pressure
compare for open and closed-ended conditions? Comment on any
similarities/differences.

8 DOCUMENTATION
Present your work in a professional manner.
Report requirements:
8.1 Test procedure – an outline of the test procedure.
8.2 Results – table(s) of results including the graphs/table supplied by the instructor.
If necessary, such graphs may be copied and modified by the student.
8.3 Complete the calculations (Section 6) and analysis and interpretation of results
(Section 7) showing details of calculations. (Details of the calculations should
be included in an appendix, NOT in the body of your report)
8.4 Analysis and interpretation of results (i.e. answers to questions in Section 7).
8.5 Inserting the lab sheet will suffice as long as you indicate any variations in the
procedure. Also hand-written calculations are also acceptable as long as they are
neat and well set out.