A pressure of 700 PSI represents a significant concentration of energy that can easily destroy common objects while leaving industrial structures largely unaffected. Understanding the power of 700 PSI requires a clear definition of the measurement itself and a look at the specific physical properties of materials like plastics, wood, and concrete.
Understanding Pressure and the PSI Unit
Pressure is defined as the total force distributed over a specific area. The standard unit for this measurement in many engineering and industrial applications is PSI, which stands for Pounds per Square Inch. This unit quantifies the amount of one-pound force applied directly onto a single square-inch surface area. To grasp the concept, consider the difference between placing a 700-pound weight on a large mattress versus balancing it on a single one-inch-square block. Thus, 700 PSI means 700 pounds of force is exerted on every single square inch of the object’s surface.
Common Materials Damaged by 700 PSI
A pressure of 700 PSI is a failure point for the structural integrity of several common materials. This level of stress is enough to cause permanent deformation or catastrophic rupture in moderately durable items. Standard-grade concrete is exceptionally strong in compression but possesses a weakness in tension. The tensile strength for traditional concrete mixes often falls within the range of 300 to 700 PSI. At or near 700 PSI, a concrete slab or beam will likely begin to crack and fail from a bending or pulling force.
Many standard plumbing components are also vulnerable to this level of internal stress. A larger diameter Schedule 40 PVC pipe, a common plastic piping material, has a rated burst pressure significantly below 700 PSI. For instance, a two-inch Schedule 40 PVC pipe is typically rated to fail at a pressure around 280 PSI, making it highly susceptible to rupture at 700 PSI.
Contextualizing 700 PSI with Real-World Comparisons
Placing 700 PSI into a familiar context helps to illustrate its considerable magnitude. This pressure is the point at which many industrial machines transition from a low-power setting to a high-power one. For instance, a two-stage hydraulic pump found in common log splitters is designed to operate in a low-pressure, fast mode until the resistance from the wood increases. The pressure at which this pump automatically shifts from high-flow to high-force mode is often in the range of 700 to 900 PSI. At this point, the system redirects the hydraulic fluid to generate the thousands of pounds of force needed to split a dense log.
A high-pressure fire hose can be rated to withstand pressures up to 800 PSI, demonstrating that 700 PSI is close to the maximum stress point for specialized fluid-carrying equipment. For a natural comparison, 700 PSI is equivalent to the hydrostatic pressure experienced at a depth of approximately 1,600 feet below the ocean’s surface. At this depth, the weight of the water column above an object exerts an enormous and continuous squeeze on every square inch of surface area.