General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University

Faculty of Engineering
Department of Aeronautical Engineering

THIN CYLINDER PRACTICAL 01

Name of Student : MMPT Gallella

Registration Number : C/ ENG/ 6112/ AE
Stream/Intake : AE/38
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TITLE: THIN CYLINDER PRACTICAL 01 (OPEN ENDS
CONDITION)
AIMS:
• To show the linearity of the strain gauges in the open ends condition.

• To find the hoop stress and strain relationship (Young’s Modulus) for the cylinder material.
• To find the longitudinal and hoop strain relationship (Poisson’s Ratio) for the cylinder
material.
• To use a Mohr’s Circle.

APPARATUS:

The thin cylinder is a thin-walled aluminum alloy cylinder. Inside each end of the cylinder is a free
moving piston. This cylinder sits inside a sturdy frame, on the top of a steel box. The steel box
contains electrical equipment that works the electronic strain gauge display and circuits that can
link to a computer. Fixed to the surface of the cylinder is a set of electrical strain gauges, and to
apply internal pressure to the cylinder, a hydraulic hand pump is used to force oil into the cylinder.
A mechanical bourdon-type pressure gauge shows the oil pressure in the cylinder. The hand pump
includes a pressure control to control the pressure in the cylinder to help prevent damage to the
equipment.
NOTE – The cylinder pressure should not exceed 3.5MPa.

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There are six strain gauges on the cylinder, arranged at various angles to allow the study of how
the strain varies at different angles to the axis. The display shows the reading from each strain
gauge in (micro strain). The display shows only four readings at a time, so you need to use “Scroll
readings” button to scroll up and down to see all the six values. Note that a negative reading is a
compressive strain, and a positive reading is a tensile strain.

Cylinder dimensions- 80 mm internal diameter, 359 mm length, wall thickness – 3 mm

Cylinder material – Aluminum alloy 6063
Young’s Modulus 69 GN/m2, Poisson’s ratio 0.33

NOTATIONS
𝐹 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒(𝑁)
𝐴 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎(𝑚2)
𝑙 𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ(𝑚)
𝜎 𝑁𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠(𝑁. 𝑚2 )
𝜎𝐻 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝑝 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 (𝑁. 𝑚2)
𝜎𝐿 𝐿𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 (𝑁. 𝑚2)
𝜏 𝑆ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 (𝑁. 𝑚2)
𝜃 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑃𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 (𝐷𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒)
𝑝 𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 (𝑁. 𝑚2)
𝜀 𝐷𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 ∗
𝜀𝐿𝑜 𝐿𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 (𝑂𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝐸𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛)∗
𝜀𝐻𝑂 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝑝 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 (𝐶𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝐸𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛)∗
𝐸 𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑔′𝑠 𝑀𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑠 (𝑁. 𝑚2)
𝑑 𝐶𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐷𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 (𝑚)
𝑡 𝐶𝑦𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑊𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 (𝑚)
𝜈 𝑃𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑛′𝑠 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜
∗Strain is a ratio. hence no units. The display will show a traditional unit με
(microstrain) which is th estrain value × 10−6

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THEORY
Thick and Thin Cylinders
In stress analysis, cylinders are divided into two groups, thick and thin.
• Thin cylinder has a diameter to thickness ratio of more than 20
• Thick cylinder has a diameter to thickness ratio of less than 20
Stress (𝝈): Force applied to a material over a known area.

Strain (𝜺): Change in length (distortion caused) of a material over its original length due to applied
stress

Compressive strain is a negative value.

Tensile strain is appositive value.
Young’s Modulus (E): Ratio of stress and strain on a material.

Poisson’s Ratio (𝝊): the ratio of the transverse strain in a material (at right angles applied stress)
against longitudinal strain (in the direction of the applied stress)

Direct Stresses on a Thin Walled Cylinder

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Three direct stresses can act on a closed cylinder with an internal pressure,
1. Longitudinal stress – stress along the cylinder axis
2. Hoop stress – stress along the diameter of the cylinder
3. Radial stress – Compression of the walls of the cylinder
Radial stress is minute when compared to Longitudinal stress and hoop stress, therefore it is
ignored in basic calculations.

Individual direct stresses in a thin cylinder are,

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Stress and Force in Two Dimensions

These figures show stresses on a piece of material that is stressed in two dimensions. Assuming
this material to be a wedge of unit depth and side AB to be of unit length, resolving along 𝜎𝜃 gives,

Principal Planes
The planes on which the shear component is zero are called principal planes. Therefore, from
Equation 4,

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This will give two values of 2𝜃 differing by 180° and therefore the principal planes are at right
angles to each other.

Principal stresses
The stresses on the principal planes are normal to these planes and are called principal stresses.
Therefore, from equation (3),

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Principal stresses are the maximum and minimum values of normal stress in the system. The sign
is positive for a tensile stress and negative for a compressive stress.

Assuming BC and AC are principal places of the material, i.e. 𝜏 = 0, 𝜎𝑥 and 𝜎𝑦 are the principal
stresses.

Maximum shear stress 𝜏𝜃 will occur when 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜃 = 1, i.e. when 𝜃 = 45° . Therefore, the maximum
shear stress occurs on planes at 45° to the principal planes.

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Open Ends Condition

When you screw in the hand wheel, it clamps the free moving pistons in the cylinder in the
cylinder. The frame then takes the axial (Longitudinal) stress and not the cylinder wall, as if the
cylinder has
no ends.
Principal Strains – Open Ends

In a cylinder, the maximum and minimum strains are at right angles to each other. These strains
are called the principal Strains. In thin cylinder, these are the maximum Hoop Strain and the
maximum
Longitudinal Strain.

In the Open Ends Condition, there should be a direct Hoop Strain due to the Hoop Stress, but there
should be no longitudinal strain because the ends are open. However due to the Poisson effect,
there will be a compressive (negative) value of strain.

Therefore, using Young’s Modulus equation. Principal strains of the thin cylinder.

Direct from the hoop stress

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10
PROCEDURE
1. Before doing the experiment the power to the thin cylinder was switched on and
left for at least 5 minutes.
2. The pressure control was turned anti-clockwise direction and screwed in the hand
wheel to
set-up the open ends condition. (if you’re using VDAS, select the Open Ends
experiment
condition)
3. Turn the pressure control valve clockwise, “Press and Hold to Zero” button to
zero the strain
gauge display readings. The pressure control valve was turned clockwise and to zero
the strain gauge display readings, the button was pressed and hold to zero.
4. The first set of readings (at zero pressure) were entered into the blank results table.
5. The hand pump was pumped until the pressure approximately 0.5MPa. waited a
few seconds for the readings to stabilize and the readings were recorded in to the
results table.
6. The pressure was carefully increased in 0.5MPa increments up to 3MPa. At each
increment waited for the readings to be stabilize and the readings were recorded.
7. The pressure control was turned anti-clockwise to reduce the indicated pressure
to 0MPa.

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OBSERVATIONS

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CALCULATIONS
Sample calculation for Open Ends (Theoretical values):
Thickness = 3mm
Internal Diameter = 80mm
Length = 359mm
Poisson’s Ratio = 0.33
Young’s Modulus = 69 GN/m2
𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐨𝐩 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬
𝑝𝑑
𝜎𝐻 =
2𝑡
1. When p = 0.4 MPa

0.4 × 106 × 0.08

𝜎𝐻 = = 5.3 𝑀𝑃𝑎
2 × 0.003

2. When p = 0.8 MPa

0.8 × 106 × 0.08
𝜎𝐻 = = 10.6MPa
2 × 0.003

3. When p = 1.2 MPa

1.2 × 106 × 0.08
𝜎𝐻 = = 16MPa
2 × 0.003
3. When p = 1.6 MPa
1.6 × 106 × 0.08
𝜎𝐻 = = 21.3MPa
2 × 0.003
3. When p = 2.0 MPa
2.0 × 106 × 0.08
𝜎𝐻 = = 26.6MPa
2 × 0.003
3. When p = 2.4 MPa

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 2.4 × 106 × 0.08
𝜎𝐻 = = 32MPa
2 × 0.003
3. When p = 2.8 MPa
2.8 × 106 × 0.08
𝜎𝐻 = = 37.33MPa
2 × 0.003

TABULATION (Hoop Stress Vs Hoop Strain)

Hoop Stress (MPa) Hoop Strain for Gauge 6

5.3 62
10.6 151
16 206
21.3 279
26.6 355
32 430
37.33 501

Graph of Hoop Stress against Hoop Strain

40

35

30
Hoop Stress (MPa)

25

20

15

10

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Hoop Strain

𝟏𝟔−𝟏𝟎.𝟔𝟔
Gradient of the graph is = = 0.0970
𝟐𝟎𝟔−𝟏𝟓𝟏

Therefore, the Young’s Modulus = 97.0 GPa

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 𝟔𝟗−𝟗𝟕
Percentage error = 𝟔𝟗

= −0.405
TABULATION (Hoop Strain Vs Longitudinal Strain)

Hoop Strain Longitudinal Strain

63 -21
131 -44
205 -69
278 -94
351 -120
426 -147
497 -170

Graph of Longitudinal Strain Vs Hoop Strain

0
-20 0 100 200 300 400 500 600

-40
Longitudinal Strain

-60
-80
-100
-120
-140
-160
-180
Hoop Strain

The gradient of the graph is = -0.3396

Therefore, the Poisson’s Ratio is = -0.3396
Calculation of Theoretical Principal Strains
Poisson’s Ratio = 0.33
Young’s Modulus = 69 GN/m2

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 𝜎𝐻𝑂
ℰ𝐻𝑂 =
𝐸
ℰ
41.33 × 106
ℰ 𝐻𝑂 = = 5.9 × 10−4 = 590 × 10−6
69 × 109
−0.33 × 41.33 × 106
ℰ𝐿𝑜 = = 1.976 × 10−4 = 197.6 × 10−6
69 × 109

Calculation of Experiential Principle Strains

Poisson’s Ratio = 0.33
Young’s Modulus = 97.0 GN/m2

𝜎𝐻𝑂
ℰ𝐻𝑂 =
𝐸
37.33 × 106
ℰ ℰ 𝐻𝑂 = = 3.8484 × 10−4 = 384.84 × 10−6
97 × 109
−0.3378 × 37.33 × 106
ℰ𝐿𝑜 = = −130.0 × 10−6
97 × 109
Experimental Mohr’s Circle

When 2𝜃 = 60

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When 2𝜃 = 90

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When 2𝜃 = 120

Theoretical Mohr’s Circle

When 2𝜃 = 60

When 2𝜃 = 90

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When 2𝜃 = 120

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DISCUSSION
1. Look at the positions of the strain gauges. Which gauges do you think will give direct
readings of the Hoop Strain and longitudinal Strain in the cylinder?
In the described practical, strain gauges were employed to measure the strain experienced
by the thin cylinder. These gauges rely on the principle that their electrical resistance changes in
response to compression or tension. They are typically constructed using a metal foil patterned in
a zigzag shape.
However, in this experiment, the direct measurement of longitudinal strain was not the
focus. Instead, one specific strain gauge, known as gauge 2, was used to measure the longitudinal
strain indirectly. This indirect longitudinal strain arises as a result of the hoop stress exerted on the
cylinder. By monitoring the changes in electrical resistance of gauge 2, it was possible to infer the
magnitude of the longitudinal strain induced by the hoop stress.
2. Examine the results for gauges 1 and 6 and comment on the magnitude of the hoop strain
as you move along the cylinder.
The gauges 1 and 6 have been positioned to measure the hoop strain in the thin cylinder.
From the gathered data, it can be said that when we move along the cylinder the hoop strain
remains constant.
3. Steel is approximately three times stiffer than Aluminum and has a Young’s modulus of
𝟐𝟏𝟎𝐆𝐍𝐦. if the cylinder had been made of steel, would the strain values be higher or lower
for the same stress? Explain
Actually, the strain values will be higher for the same stress in a material with a higher
Young's modulus or stiffness. Allow me to explain in more detail.
The strain equation is given by:
Strain = (Change in length) / (Original length) = Stress / Young's modulus
According to this equation, for a given stress, if the Young's modulus of a material is
higher, the resulting strain will be lower. This implies that the material will undergo less
deformation or elongation under the same applied stress.
So, if the thin cylinder in the practical had been made of a material with a higher Young's
modulus, such as steel, the strain values would indeed be lower compared to a material with a
lower Young's modulus, such as aluminum, for the same applied stress. This is because the higher
stiffness of the steel reduces its ability to stretch or deform, resulting in lower strain values.
4. Does the calculated Young’s Modulus match the given value in technical data? If not, state
the reasons.
The calculated value for the Young’s Modulus is greater than the theoretical value of the
Young’s Modulus having a percentage error of −0.06811. This can be happened due to the errors

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done during the practical. When taking the pressure values, the magnitude of the pressure at each
gauge weren’t stable and variate slightly. This might be the reason for the deviation of the values
in the graphs.
5. Does the calculated Poisson’s Ratio match the given value in technical data? If not, state
the reasons.
The calculated Poisson's ratio in the experiment closely matches the theoretical value,
indicating good agreement between the two. The theoretical Poisson's ratio, which represents the
ratio of transverse strain to axial strain in a material, was found to be 0.33. The experimental value
obtained was 0.3396, showing a small difference that can be considered negligible.
This close correspondence between the theoretical and experimental values suggests that the
measurements taken during the experiment were accurate and reliable. The material under
investigation exhibited behavior consistent with its expected properties, as reflected in the
calculated Poisson's ratio. This agreement strengthens the confidence in the experimental results
and their alignment with established theoretical knowledge.
6. Compare the theoretical and actual Mohr’s circles. If there are any differences, what
would be the causes?
The slight difference between the theoretical and experimental Mohr's circles can be
attributed to experimental errors and system malfunctions. Experimental errors include
measurement inaccuracies and variations in the experimental setup, while system malfunctions
involve issues with calibration and limitations in the measuring instruments. These factors can
contribute to deviations between the expected and observed results in the experiment.

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CONCLUSION
During the successful completion of the thin cylinder open ends practical, a notable correlation was
observed between the experimental and theoretical parameters. It was found that the operation of
the hydraulic hand pump and accurate monitoring of the pressure gauges played a crucial role in
obtaining reliable data.
One significant observation was that as the pressure applied to the cylinder increased, there was a
corresponding increase in the stress and strain values. This relationship aligns with the behavior
of materials under mechanical loading. When subjected to higher pressure, the internal forces
within the cylinder intensify, resulting in elevated levels of stress and strain.
To ensure the validity of the experimental results, it was important to carefully control and maintain
consistent pressure levels throughout the practical. By doing so, the data obtained accurately
reflected the response of the thin cylinder under varying pressure conditions.

REFERENCES

1. (PDF) Laboratory Experiment: Thin-walled cylinder - researchgate. (n.d.).

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351686835_Laboratory_Experiment_Thin-
Walled_Cylinder

2. Experiment 6 - thin cylinder - department of mechanical engineering college of

engineering. Studocu. (n.d.). https://www.studocu.com/my/document/universiti-tenaga-
nasional/mechanical-engineering/experiment-6-thin-cylinder/2279454

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