Designation: E1928 − 13

Standard Practice for

Estimating the Approximate Residual Circumferential Stress
in Straight Thin-walled Tubing1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1928; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope* example, influence the susceptibility of a tube to stress corro-

1.1 A qualitative estimate of the residual circumferential sion cracking when the tube is exposed to certain environ-
stress in thin-walled tubing may be calculated from the change ments.
in outside diameter that occurs upon splitting a length of 4.2 Residual stresses in new thin-walled tubing are very
thin-walled tubing. This practice assumes a linear stress sensitive to the parameters of the fabrication process, and small
distribution through the tube wall thickness and will not variations in these parameters can produce significant changes
provide an estimate of local stress distributions such as surface in the residual stresses. See, for example, Table 1, which shows
stresses. (Very high local residual stress gradients are common the residual stresses measured by this practice in samples from
at the surface of metal tubing due to cold drawing, peening, successive heats of a ferritic Cr-Mo-Ni stainless steel tube and
grinding, etc.) The Hatfield and Thirkell formula, as later a titanium condenser tube. This practice provides a means for
modified by Sachs and Espey,2 provides a simple method for estimating the residual stresses in samples from each and every
calculating the approximate circumferential stress from the heat.
change in diameter of straight, thin-walled, metal tubing. 4.2.1 This practice may also be used to estimate the residual
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the stresses that remain in tubes after removal from service in
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the different environments and operating conditions.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 4.3 This practice assumes a linear stress distribution through
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- the wall thickness. This assumption is usually reasonable for
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. thin-walled tubes, that is, for tubes in which the wall thickness
does not exceed one tenth of the outside diameter. Even in
2. Referenced Documents cases where the assumption is not strictly justified, experience
2.1 ASTM Standards:3 has shown that the approximate stresses estimated by this
E6 Terminology Relating to Methods of Mechanical Testing practice frequently serve as useful indicators of the suscepti-
bility to stress corrosion cracking of the tubing of certain metal
3. Terminology alloys when exposed to specific environments.
3.1 The definitions in this practice are in accordance with 4.3.1 Because of this questionable assumption regarding the
Terminology E6. stress distribution in the tubing, the user is cautioned against
using the results of this practice for design, manufacturing
4. Significance and Use control, localized surface residual stress evaluation, or other
purposes without supplementary information that supports the
4.1 Residual stresses in tubing may be detrimental to the application.
future performance of the tubing. Such stresses may, for
4.4 This practice has primarily been used to estimate re-
sidual fabrication stresses in new thin-walled tubing between
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E28 on Mechanical 19-mm (0.75-in.) and 25-mm (1-in.) outside diameter and
Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E28.13 on Residual Stress 1.3-mm (0.05-in.) or less wall thickness. While measurement
Measurement. difficulties may be encountered with smaller or larger tubes,
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2013. Published January 2014. Originally
approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as E1928–07. DOI:
there does not appear to be any theoretical size limitation on
10.1520/E1928-13. the applicability of this practice.
2
Sachs, G. and Espey, G., “A New Method for Determination of Stress
Distribution in Thin-walled Tubing,” Transactions of the AIME, Vol 147, 1942. 5. Procedure
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
5.1 On new material, the stress determination shall be made
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on on at least one representative sample obtained from each lot or
the ASTM website. heat of material in the final size and heat treatment. The results

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

1
 E1928 − 13
TABLE 1 Residual Stresses in Successive Heats of Tubing sample. Ball points or pointed ends should be used with
Ferritic Cr-Mo-Ni Stainless Steel Titanium micrometers, calipers, or similar instruments in order to obtain
Heat No.
kPa psi kPa psi reliable wall thickness measurements.
1 234000 34000 37000 5400
2 272000 39400 52000 7600
NOTE 2—It can be useful to calibrate the instrument used for the
3 217000 31500 30000 4300 thickness measurements against a standard test block prior to use.
4 183000 26500 52000 7500
5 241000 34900 59000 8600 6. Calculation
6 30000 4300
7 59000 8600 6.1 The circumferential stress is estimated from the change
8 30000 4300 in outside diameter occurring on splitting a length of tubing.
9 52000 7500
10 37000 5400 6.2 The bending moment M, per unit length of tubing, that
is released by such a flexure is given as follows:

of tests on brass and steel tubes, reported by Sachs and Espey,2 M5

EI
1 2 µ2 F 1
Ro
2
1
R1 G
5
EI
1 2 µ2
3
R 1 2 Ro
R oR 1
(1)
indicate that the length of the sample piece of tube should be
where:
at least three times the outside diameter in order to avoid
significant end effects. E = modulus of elasticity,
µ = Poisson’s ratio,
5.2 At the midlength of the tube sample, measure the Ro = average outside radius before splitting, and
outside diameter at four locations (every 45°) around the tube R1 = average outside radius after splitting
circumference in order to verify that the cross section is
6.2.1 Standard reference book values of the modulus of
reasonably circular.
elasticity and Poisson’s ratio may be used for this purpose.
5.3 Select and mark a straight line lengthwise on the sample,
6.3 The release of this bending moment corresponds to a
indicating where the split will be made. If the tube thickness is
release of the bending stresses in the section. If the stress
not uniform around the periphery, some practitioners prefer the
distribution is such that the stresses vary linearly from one
split to be made at the thinnest location.
surface to the other, then the minimum and maximum stresses
5.4 Determine the average outside diameter, Do, of the occur at the surfaces and are given as follows:
sample by measuring and averaging the diameter at four points
Mt E t R1 2 Ro
along a line that is 90° from where the split will be made. Any S5 56 3 3 (2)
2I 1 2 µ2 2 R oR 1
measurement method may be used provided that the associated
measurement uncertainty does not exceed 0.013 mm (0.0005 where:
in.) or 0.07 %, whichever is larger. See 5.6 and Note 1. S = surface circumferential stress,
5.5 Split the sample longitudinally on one side over its full t = effective thickness of tube wall, and
length along the preselected line. Take care to avoid the I = second moment of area per unit length of tube wall.
development of additional residual stresses in the splitting 6.4 Rewriting the equation in terms of tube diameter
operation. Monitoring the specimen temperatures during the Et D1 2 Do
splitting operation may help to ensure that new stresses are S56
12µ 2 3
D1 Do
(3)
confined to the vicinity of the split.
5.5.1 The tube may be split by electric discharge machining, where:
by sawing, or by any other gentle cutting method that does not Do = mean outside diameter of tube before splitting,
significantly distort the stresses. On a milling machine it is D1 = mean outside diameter of tube after splitting.
preferable to hold the specimen by clamps that apply only NOTE 3—If D1 > Do, the maximum tensile residual circumferential
longitudinal compressive stresses to the tube ends. stresses are on the outer surface of the tube. If D1 < Do, the maximum
tensile residual stresses are on the inner surface of the tube.
5.6 After splitting, determine the average final outside
6.5 Calculate and record the maximum residual circumfer-
diameter, Df, of the sample by measuring the diameter at 90° to
ential stress.
the split and averaging the readings taken at four equally
spaced locations along the length of the sample. Use the same
7. Report
measurement method that was used in 5.4.
7.1 If a report is required, it should contain, as a minimum,
NOTE 1—It is important not to deform the sample while measuring the
the following information for each sample tested:
diameter. After splitting, the diametral stiffness of the sample is very low.
For this reason, a non-contact measurement method is preferred. If a 7.1.1 Identification of the material, including details rel-
contact measurment instrument, such as a micrometer or caliper, is used, evant to the test,
special care or an electrical contact sensor is needed to minimize the 7.1.2 Length of the sample,
contact pressure applied. 7.1.3 Average outside diameter, Do, before splitting,
5.7 After splitting, determine the effective thickness, t, of 7.1.4 Average outside diameter, D1, after splitting,
the tube wall by measuring the thickness to the nearest 0.013 7.1.5 Effective wall thickness, t, and
mm (0.0005 in.) at 180° to the split and averaging the readings 7.1.6 Minimum and maximum residual circumferential
taken at four equally spaced locations along the length of the stress, S.

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 E1928 − 13
8. Precision and Bias 8.2.1 While the bias of this practice in any specific instance
8.1 Precision—Since this is a destructive practice, it is could be evaluated by mounting strain gages on the specimen
impossible to conduct replicate tests on the same specimen to prior to splitting, this may not be especially useful since the
evaluate the precision of this practice. merit of this practice lies not in the actual value of the
8.1.1 Users are encouraged to conduct tests on a series of estimated residual circumferential stress but in the relationship
nominally identical specimens cut from adjacent sections of a between the estimated stress determined by this simple practice
single tube in order to estimate the approximate repeatability and the subsequent performance of the tube. In this sense, users
achieved with alternate splitting techniques as applied to the are encouraged to develop and maintain comprehensive his-
tube materials of interest. torical records to assess, for specific tube materials, fabrication
8.2 Bias—The bias of this practice depends upon the actual processes, and environments, the relationships between the
stress distribution through the thickness of the tube and its estimated stresses and subsequent performance.
departure from the linear stress distribution that this practice 8.3 Some residual stress measurement results obtained with
assumes. The actual stress distribution depends, in turn, upon 6-% Mo austentic stainless steel tubing of two sizes are
the fabrication processes, the service history, and the tube summarized in Table 2. For each tubing size the samples were
material. taken adjacent to each other from a single tube. These results
show good agreement between measurements made on adja-
TABLE 2 Residual Stress Measurements on Austenitic Stainless
Steel Tubing cent samples. The results also show good agreement between
Do × t, mm (in.) Measurement Method Stress, kPa (psi)
measurements made by this standard practice and measure-
22 × 0.71 (7⁄8 × 0.028) This standard practice 154000 (22300)
ments made using resistance strain gages with the grids
This standard practice 160000 (23200) oriented parallel to the residual circumferential stresses.
Circumferential strain gages 165000 (24000)

25 × 0.71 (1 × 0.028) This standard practice 160000 (23200) 9. Keywords

Circumferential strain gages 174000 (25300)
9.1 residual stress measurement; tubing

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee E28 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue (E1928–07)
that may impact the use of this standard.

(1) Revisions were made to the following sections: 1.1, 5.4,

5.5, 5.6, Note 1, 5.7, Section 6, Section 7, and 8.3.

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