Calculation Of Wall Thickness And Pressure Of Stainless Steel Cylinder

Stainless steel cylinders are a common component in engineering and industrial applications. As same as the aluminum pneumatic cylinder tube, cylinders equipped with stainless steel cylinders are widely used in machinery manufacturing, industrial automation, building construction and daily life. 

However, when choosing stainless steel pipe, understanding its compressive strength is crucial to ensuring the safety and reliability of the machine. This article will deeply explore the relationship between its wall thickness and pressure resistance, and provide stainless steel wall thickness calculation formulas and calculation examples to provide readers with a reference when selecting stainless steel tubes.

Affected by the material properties, stainless steel cylindrical tubes can NOT be made into various cross-sectional shapes like aluminum alloy cylindrical tubes, and generally can only be made into circles. Therefore, in this article we only discuss the calculation method of the allowable pressure of stainless steel cylindrical cylinders.

The stainless steel cylindrical tube primarily bears pressure from the inside, and its pressure-bearing capacity depends on several factors, including wall thickness, material, diameter, and working environment. Among these, wall thickness is the most direct factor influencing pressure capacity. With all other factors being equal, a thicker wall results in a greater pressure-bearing capacity. 

However, a thicker wall is not always better. Excessive wall thickness significantly increases unnecessary costs and the weight of the tube, complicating processing and transportation, and may lead to other defects in the product.

Conversely, with all other conditions unchanged, the pressure that a stainless tube can withstand decreases as its internal diameter increases.

This is a simple formula to convert wall thickness into maximum allowable working pressure.

Among them,

◆ d = cylinder inner diameter mm

◆  = Cylinder wall thickness mm

◆ P = Theoretical maximum allowable working pressure MPa

Below, we will use an example to illustrate the specific calculation process.

Calculation

Assuming there is an existing seamless stainless steel cylinder with an inner diameter of 125mm and a wall thickness of 4mm,

So,

Then, the maximum allowable pressure is:

Usually, we divide the theoretical calculation results by a safety factor to ensure stability and reliability in practical applications, and to avoid the occurrence of certain extreme situations. Here, we set the safety factor to 4.

The actual maximum working pressure is:

Conclusion

In summary, there is a close positive correlation between the wall thickness of stainless steel pipes and their pressure resistance. By using appropriate calculation formulas and examples, we can quantify this relationship and provide useful references for practical selection and use.

When choosing stainless steel pipes, the wall thickness and material should be reasonably selected according to actual needs and working environment to ensure the safety and reliability of the pipeline. At the same time, multiple factors such as cost, weight, and service life need to be comprehensively weighed to make the optimal decision.

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