The discussion focuses on the derivation of the longitudinal stress formula for thin cylindrical shells, specifically the area calculation of pi x d x t. The participants clarify that the formula assumes the cylinder is thin, allowing for simplifications in calculations. It is noted that while using the circumference for stress calculations is acceptable, considering the actual wall area would yield more accuracy. The conversation also touches on the trade-off between calculation time and accuracy, suggesting that for thin cylinders, approximations are often sufficient. Finally, the validity of using the same equation for crushing stresses is questioned, with an assumption that it remains applicable.