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Thin Cylindrical and Spherical Shells MCQs – Part 1

7 questions. Tap an option to check it instantly, then read the solution.

Practice SSC JE and other civil engineering exam questions on thin cylinders and spheres: hoop and longitudinal stress, their ratio, open and closed ends, wire-wound cylinders, changes in dimensions under pressure and hoop tension in circular water tanks. Tap an option to check it, then open the full explanation for each question.

Question 1Medium
Calculate the hoop tension developed at the base of the wall of a circular water tank of diameter 12.6 m storing water to a depth of 4 m. Take the specific weight of water as 10 kN/m³.
Full explanation

Answer: C. 252 kN

Hoop tension per metre height at the base = γHD/2 = 10 × 4 × 12.6/2 = 252 kN.

Question 2Easy
If p is the internal pressure, d the diameter and t the wall thickness of a thin cylindrical shell, the hoop stress will be:
Full explanation

Answer: C. pd/2t

Hoop stress σh = pd/2t.

Question 3Medium
The hoop stress induced in a thin cylinder by winding it with wire under tension will be:
Full explanation

Answer: A. Compressive

The tensioned wire squeezes the cylinder inward, so the cylinder wall gets compressive hoop stress.

Question 4Hard
When a thin cylindrical shell is subjected to an internal pressure, there will be:
Full explanation

Answer: D. None of these

For a closed thin cylinder, both the diameter and the length increase, which is not among (a)–(c), so (d). (The book's printed key gives (b); see the note.)

Question 5Medium
An open-ended thin cylindrical shell subjected to uniform internal pressure will be subjected to:
Full explanation

Answer: A. Hoop stress only

With no end caps, nothing pushes the shell lengthwise, so there is hoop stress only. (The book's printed key gives (c); see the note.)

Question 6Easy
In thin-walled cylinders, the ratio of hoop stress to longitudinal stress is:
Full explanation

Answer: A. 2

(pd/2t) ÷ (pd/4t) = 2.

Question 7Easy
In a thin cylindrical shell, the ratio of longitudinal stress to hoop stress is:
Full explanation

Answer: A. 0.5

(pd/4t) ÷ (pd/2t) = 0.5.