An Improved Pipe Hoop Stress Formula

The ASME B3l.4〔1〕and B3l.8 〔2〕codes use the thin wall formula to predict hoop stress in a pipe. To account for the external pressure, the above codes simply subtract the external pressure from the internal pressure. The thin wall formula using this differential pressure does not give the same hoop stress as the thick wall formula. This paper proposes an improved equation to predict pipe hoop stress subjected to both internal and external pressure. Compared to the conventional thin wall formula, the improved formula has additional terms, which improve the agreement with the thick wall formula and account for external pressure. The improved formula is less conservative than the conventional thin wall formula, but slightly more conservative than the thick wall formula. The formula is simpler and easier to use than the thick wall formula and will save pipe material cost as well as installation cost compared to using the conventional thin wall formula. The savings will increase as the water depth increases.