How Do You Calculate Stress and Diameter Change in a Spherical Pressure Vessel?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating stress and diameter change in a spherical pressure vessel with specific dimensions and material properties. The maximum normal stress was calculated using the formula stress = pr/2t, yielding a result of 187.5 MPa, which was confirmed as correct. However, the user struggled to find an equation for determining the change in diameter or circumference of the spherical container. Suggestions included using hoop stress and longitudinal stress with Hooke's law to derive the change in radius. It was clarified that while a spherical container can be treated similarly to a cylinder, a cylinder with open ends cannot hold internal pressure.
a_hargy
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Homework Statement


The inner diameter of a spherical gas container is 5m, has a wall thickness of 24mm and it is made of steel for which E=200GPa and v=0.29. Knowing the gauge presure in the container is increased from zero to 1.8MPA determine:
a) The maximum normal stress in the container,
b) The increase in the diameter of the container


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


a) I used the equation stress = pr/2t and got an result of 187.5MPa. Does this seem correct?

b) Its this part I am stuck on. I cannot find an equation for calculating the change in diameter or circumference of a spherical container. Can anyone point me in the direction of some reading material or post some up here? http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/materials-science-and-engineering/3-11-mechanics-of-materials-fall-1999/modules/pv.pdf" is the best I could find and it seems to only show the chance in circumference of a pipe.

Thanks in advance guys.

Adam
 
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a_hargy said:

The Attempt at a Solution


a) I used the equation stress = pr/2t and got an result of 187.5MPa. Does this seem correct?

This should be correct.

a_hargy said:
b) Its this part I am stuck on. I cannot find an equation for calculating the change in diameter or circumference of a spherical container. Can anyone point me in the direction of some reading material or post some up here? http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/materials-science-and-engineering/3-11-mechanics-of-materials-fall-1999/modules/pv.pdf" is the best I could find and it seems to only show the chance in circumference of a pipe.

That formula should work. I assume it is the same as you using the normal stress (hoop stress) and longitudinal stress, with Hooke's law to get the hoop strain and then use that to get the change in radius (which is the increase in the radius).
 
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Thanks for that.

So is it correct to assume that in this case a spherical container can be treated the same as a cylinder with open ends?

Cheers,
Adam
 
I believe it can be.
 
a_hargy said:
Thanks for that.

So is it correct to assume that in this case a spherical container can be treated the same as a cylinder with open ends?

Cheers,
Adam

A cylinder with open ends will not hold any internal pressure! Pressure vessels are closed.

The hoop stress in a cylinder is twice as much as the hoop stress in a spherical vessel.

CS
 
a_hargy said:
b) Its this part I am stuck on. I cannot find an equation for calculating the change in diameter or circumference of a spherical container. Can anyone point me in the direction of some reading material or post some up here? http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/materials-science-and-engineering/3-11-mechanics-of-materials-fall-1999/modules/pv.pdf" is the best I could find and it seems to only show the chance in circumference of a pipe.

You're on the right track...take a look here:

http://www3.esc.auckland.ac.nz/People/Staff/pkel015/SolidMechanicsBooks/Part_I/BookSM_Part_I/04_LinearElasticity%20I/PDF/Linear_Elasticity_05_Presure_Vessels.pdf

CS
 
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