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Hoop Stress Equation:
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Hoop stress is the circumferential stress in a cylindrical pressure vessel or pipe subjected to internal or external pressure. It's a critical parameter in mechanical engineering for designing pressure vessels, pipelines, and other cylindrical structures.
The calculator uses the hoop stress equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation calculates the stress acting circumferentially around the cylinder wall when pressurized. This stress must be less than the material's yield strength for safe operation.
Details: Accurate hoop stress calculation is crucial for designing safe pressure vessels, determining appropriate wall thickness, preventing catastrophic failures, and ensuring compliance with engineering standards and safety regulations.
Tips: Enter pressure in Pascals (Pa), diameter in meters (m), and thickness in meters (m). All values must be positive and non-zero. Ensure consistent units throughout the calculation.
Q1: What materials is this calculator applicable to?
A: This calculator applies to any isotropic material (metals, plastics, etc.) used in cylindrical pressure vessels where the wall thickness is small compared to the diameter.
Q2: What are typical safety factors for hoop stress?
A: Safety factors typically range from 2.0 to 4.0 depending on the application, material properties, and regulatory requirements.
Q3: When is this formula not applicable?
A: This formula assumes thin-walled cylinders (t < D/20). For thick-walled cylinders, more complex formulas like Lame's equations should be used.
Q4: How does temperature affect hoop stress?
A: Temperature affects material properties (yield strength, modulus) and may cause thermal expansion, both of which influence the actual stress in the material.
Q5: What units should I use for the calculation?
A: Use consistent SI units: Pascals for pressure, meters for dimensions. The result will be in Pascals (Pa).