Fairbairn-Beeley boiler

Assisted by his mathematical analyst Eaton Hodgkinson, he conducted the first theoretical analysis of the stress in cylinders.The overall vertical height of the boiler could not be reduced, as this represented the clear steam space above the water level which is important to avoid the risk of priming.Oval boilers had already been tried to achieve this vertical extension, but pressure within them tended to force them into a more cylindrical shape; repeated cycling like this led to increased corrosion along the riveted joints and fatigue failures.The waterspace around the furnace was just thick enough to allow good circulation and leave space for mud to build up, but otherwise keeping the water volume to a minimum.It pre-dated Fairbairn's theoretical work though and the multiple drums were to provide extra heating surface area, rather than for structural reasons.