Skip to main content

Circular Hollow Section (CHS) Thin-Shell Torsional Buckling Calculator

Thin-walled circular tubes subjected to pure torsion buckle elastically in helical wave wrinkles before reaching material yield stress.

Outside diameter of circular hollow section

Nominal pipe wall thickness

Distance between torque diaphragm supports

Calculated Result
198.2 MPa

Critical Torsional Shear Stress

Diameter/Thickness (D/t)

46.8

Calculation Breakdown

  1. Donnell Thin-Shell Torsion Formulaτ_cr = 198.2 MPa

Buckling Stress vs Tube Length

Interactive visualization based on your current inputs

Stress
0.04691137182L = 1.5 mL = 3.0 mL = 5.0 mLength (m)τ_cr (MPa)

What Is the Circular Hollow Section (CHS) Thin-Shell Torsional Buckling Calculator?

Thin-walled circular tubes subjected to pure torsion buckle elastically in helical wave wrinkles before reaching material yield stress.

L. H. Donnell developed thin-shell buckling equations predicting torsional instability as a function of diameter-to-thickness ratio (D/t).

How Does the Circular Hollow Section (CHS) Thin-Shell Torsional Buckling Calculator Work?

The calculation evaluates user-provided measurements using recognized domain equations, converts between measurement units, and adjusts for real-world efficiency factors.

Circular Hollow Section (CHS) Thin-Shell Torsional Buckling Calculator Formula & Variables

The core mathematical equation utilized by this calculator is expressed as:

\tau_{cr} = \frac{0.272 E}{(1 - \nu^2)^{3/4}} \left(\frac{t}{r}\right)^{5/4} \left(\frac{r}{L}\right)^{1/2}

Donnell thin cylindrical shell critical torsional shear stress.

How to Use the Circular Hollow Section (CHS) Thin-Shell Torsional Buckling Calculator

  1. Enter your primary measurements in the input fields above.
  2. Select your preferred units (e.g. metric or imperial) if applicable.
  3. Review or adjust operational assumptions such as field efficiency.
  4. Click Calculate to instantly generate the full results breakdown and visual chart.
  5. Use the Reset button at any time to clear the form and test a new scenario.

Step-by-Step Example Calculation

Drive Shaft Tubular Casing

Input Values:

outerDiameterMm:140.0
wallThicknessMm:3.0
unsupportedLengthM:2.4

Understanding Your Result

Your calculated result represents the realistic operational capacity or baseline output under the specified conditions. Comparing theoretical and effective outputs reveals the direct impact of turns, overlap, and practical downtime.

Factors That Affect the Result

Field terrain, operator experience, equipment maintenance, overlap margin, and weather conditions can significantly influence real-world output.

When Should You Use This Calculator?

Use this calculator whenever you need quick, verified estimates for job planning, budgeting, equipment sizing, or project timelines.

Assumptions & Limitations

  • Applicable to modern structural steel hollow sections (CHS).

Frequently Asked Questions

Calculation Accuracy & Reference Note

This calculator implements verified, deterministic mathematical equations based on published standards. Results should be treated as professional engineering estimates; always verify critical operations with local equipment manuals and site inspections.

Explore more tools and calculators in Math Calculators