Thickness of materials in space?

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SUMMARY

The thickness required for a 4'x8' aluminum plate to withstand 1 atmosphere in space is significantly greater than typical applications due to the flat geometry, which increases stress concentrations. Similarly, a 4'x8' sheet of glass would require even more thickness to maintain structural integrity under the same conditions. The discussion highlights the challenges of using flat surfaces in pressurized vessels, emphasizing the need for advanced calculations and materials to ensure safety and functionality in space environments.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of material stress and strain concepts
  • Familiarity with plate theory in structural engineering
  • Knowledge of pressure vessel design principles
  • Experience with structural analysis software or calculators
NEXT STEPS
  • Research "plate theory" for flat structural analysis
  • Explore "pressure vessel design codes" for safety standards
  • Investigate "finite element analysis (FEA)" tools for stress testing
  • Learn about "material selection for aerospace applications" to understand weight and strength trade-offs
USEFUL FOR

Engineers, aerospace professionals, and materials scientists involved in the design and analysis of structures intended for space environments will benefit from this discussion.

Physt
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How thick would a 4'x8' aluminum plate need to be to hold 1 atmosphere in space?

What about a 4'x8' sheet of glass?
 
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What have you tried so far? Googling 'plate theory' would be a good start.
 
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Physt said:
How thick would a 4'x8' aluminum plate need to be to hold 1 atmosphere in space?

What about a 4'x8' sheet of glass?

It needs to be a lot thicker and heavier when it is a flat piece of material. That's why you don't see many flat surfaces on pressurized vessels... :smile:
 
berkeman said:
It needs to be a lot thicker and heavier when it is a flat piece of material. That's why you don't see many flat surfaces on pressurized vessels... :smile:

Yeah, that's why I'm having a tough time finding any information on the subject. I've found online calculators for cylinders, domes, elliptical arcs, pretty much anything that isn't flat - but I'm wondering if you were to build a massive structure with 4'x8' panels as a relatively small portion of it (not that they would be a complete wall, but that they would comprise maybe 3 degrees of a larger arced surface (or some other arbitarily massive structure for space).
 

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