Thin-Wall Pressure Vessel Calculator
Hoop and longitudinal stress in cylinders — tanks, pipes, air receivers.
Hoop is exactly double longitudinal — why sausages split lengthwise and why spiral-welded pipe puts its seam at a flatter angle. Boiler barrels crack along, never around.
Formula
Thin-Wall Pressure Vessel Calculator is a free hoop stress for mechanical and machine-design engineers — instant, accurate and 100% client-side, with the governing formula and reference shown next to the result so the number can be defended, not just quoted.
About Thin-Wall Pressure Vessel Calculator
Hoop and longitudinal stress in cylinders — tanks, pipes, air receivers. The calculation implements σ_hoop = PD/2t; σ_long = PD/4t (Membrane theory; ASME VIII context). Hoop is exactly double longitudinal — why sausages split lengthwise and why spiral-welded pipe puts its seam at a flatter angle. Boiler barrels crack along, never around.
How to use Thin-Wall Pressure Vessel Calculator
- 1Enter Internal pressure in MPa.
- 2Enter Inner diameter in mm.
- 3Enter Wall thickness in mm.
- 4Read Hoop stress, Longitudinal stress instantly — no submit button needed.
- 5Need US units? Flip the SI/Imperial toggle and every field converts.
Why use Thin-Wall Pressure Vessel Calculator?
- ✓Implements the standard formula — σ_hoop = PD/2t; σ_long = PD/4t
- ✓Reference cited on-page: Membrane theory; ASME VIII context
- ✓One-click SI ⇄ Imperial toggle — values convert in place, physics stays in SI
- ✓Live worked example: the substitution recomputes from your numbers
- ✓Built-in engineering verdict flags out-of-range results instantly
- ✓Runs entirely in your browser — nothing uploaded, free forever
Frequently asked questions
What formula does the Thin-Wall Pressure Vessel Calculator use?+
It computes σ_hoop = PD/2t; σ_long = PD/4t, per Membrane theory; ASME VIII context. The formula is displayed under the result along with a worked example substituted with your own inputs.
What should I keep in mind when using this calculator?+
Hoop is exactly double longitudinal — why sausages split lengthwise and why spiral-welded pipe puts its seam at a flatter angle. Boiler barrels crack along, never around.
Is this suitable for machine design coursework?+
Yes — these are the exact Shigley/Machinery's-Handbook formulas, with the substitution shown step by step, so you can follow the worked example into your own calculation sheet.
Is the Thin-Wall Pressure Vessel Calculator free to use?+
Yes — completely free, no sign-up, no limits. It runs client-side in your browser, so inputs stay private and results are instant even on slow connections.
Related Engineering tools
Reynolds Number Calculator
Compute Re from density, velocity, pipe diameter and viscosity — with instant laminar/turbulent classification.
● LiveLaminar vs Turbulent Flow Classifier
Classify hydraulic-oil or process-fluid flow regime from kinematic viscosity, line velocity and tube bore.
● LiveBernoulli Equation Solver
Solve downstream pressure between two points from velocities, elevations and fluid density (ideal, lossless).
● Live