Determining Tensile Stress on Pressurized Sphere Skin

[linda123]

how to determine the tensile stress placed on the skin of a pressurized sphere

 

[Astronuc]

Does one wish the thin wall approximation or the formula for the thick wall?

 

[linda123]

any?

 

[Astronuc]

s = (p r)/(2 t), where s is the tensile hoop stress, p is the differential pressure across the membrane (assuming internal pressure is much larger than external pressure), r is the mean wall radius, and t is the membrane thickness.

I would recommend one learn to derive the thick member stress formula from which the thin membrane can then be derived.

Of course, one can look in many engineering books on pressure vessels or strength of materials and find the basic formulae.

Consider purchasing - Schaum's Outline of Theory and Problems of Strength of Materials