Force on a compressed air tank

We've got an aluminum air tank, 9.75" diameter x 28.75" long.

The tank material is .125 5052 H32.

What is the force on the tank if the pressure is at 125 psi?

This being said, if the weld failed at any area of the weld, is the above answer enough force to rip the base material?

Thanks
Darrell

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Bill answers...

Hi Darrell.

The way I figure it the total inside surface area of your tank is about 880 square inches, meaning that the total pressure trying to get out of your air tank is a total of: 880 x 125 PSI = 110,000 lbs. of force.

Let me also say that my math is always suspect, and I'd really prefer it if it were an engineer (which I'm not) responding to your question.

Each one square inch of surface will have the 125 PSI of force against it. The air pressure will press evenly throughout the tank, meaning that 125 PSI is exerted on every square inch of tank wall, on non-welded surfaces and of course, on every weldment too.

As mentioned, I'm not an engineer, and I'm sure not a metallurgist either, so you'll have to go to your metal source (or engineering group) to find out if 1/8" aluminum is of sufficient thickness to handle the force you are trying to contain.

I won't even guess.

It's my experience that the manufacturers of compressed air tanks make them from steel for a reason. And, even the small, non-repairable throw away air cylinders usually have a stainless steel barrel though the end caps are aluminum.

Good picture of the remnants of a tank. If it blew, I hope no one was in the way.

Cheers,

Bill