Calculate tube sheet thickness from the bending formula using edge factor F, effective diameter, design pressure, ligament efficiency and allowable stress.

Use the configuration-specific diameter from the applicable method.

Use 75% or 0.75 fraction for the same efficiency.

Optional settings

Related Calculators

How to Use the Tube Sheet Thickness Calculator

This tool evaluates a traditional tubesheet bending relation. It does not perform a complete pressure-equipment design or an ASME/TEMA compliance check. A qualified engineer must determine the applicable method and inputs and check other loads, shear, rim/flange behavior, tube joints, minimum thickness and allowances. The result may be displayed in mm or inches.

Equation

T = (F × G) / (3)√((P) / (n × S))

T = effective equation bending thickness; F = method-specific edge-condition factor; G = configuration-dependent effective loaded diameter (not universally gasket diameter); P = applicable design pressure; n = ligament efficiency as a fraction; S = allowable stress at design metal temperature. Pressure and stress must use compatible units.

Inputs at a Glance

Symbol Meaning Format / Units
FEdge-condition factorUnitless
GEffective loaded diametermm or in
PDesign pressurebar or psi
nLigament efficiencySelect percent or fraction; 75% = 0.75 fraction
SAllowable stress at design temperatureMPa or ksi
TCalculated thicknessShown in mm
Reference for table content: ([calculator.academy](https://calculator.academy/tube-sheet-thickness-calculator/))

Calculation Steps

  1. Enter the correction factor F.
  2. Enter the configuration-specific effective loaded diameter G.
  3. Enter the design pressure P.
  4. Enter ligament efficiency n with its selected unit: 75% or 0.75 fraction. The calculator converts it to a fraction.
  5. Enter allowable stress S and calculate T.
Reference for steps: ([calculator.academy](https://calculator.academy/tube-sheet-thickness-calculator/))

Example

Input Value
F1.0
G400 mm
P25 bar = 2.5 MPa
n0.75
S150 MPa
T = (1.0 × 400) / (3)√((2.5) / (0.75 × 150))
T ≈ 19.88 mm
Reference for example values and result: ([calculator.academy](https://calculator.academy/tube-sheet-thickness-calculator/))

Quick Checks

  • Keep pressure and stress in compatible units.
  • If ligament efficiency is entered as a percent, convert it to decimal form in the equation.
  • From the equation, larger F, larger G, or larger P increase thickness.
  • From the equation, larger n or larger S reduce the required thickness.
Reference and formula-based inference: ([calculator.academy](https://calculator.academy/tube-sheet-thickness-calculator/))