Sorry if this subject has been brought up a dozen times, I did do a search and could only find vaguely related threads.
I'd simply like to know what the realistic limits on the size of a space hab are. For example a simple O'Neill cylinder. For simplicity's sake we'll asume a soild steel cylinder with no windows. I know that it has to do with the ultimate tensile strength, which is measured in Pascals (or MegaPascals to be specific), which are a unit of pressure, also known as Newtons per square meter.
So... at what point exactly would a cylinder become too big to support it's own weight as it spins to produce 1 G. I figure the thickness of the cylinder would affect this, but I find the math is somewhat beyond me.
And yes, I know we will probably never get enough resources or funding to build one of these, assume for a second limitless funds. I just want to know what the physical limitations are for our current best construction material, which I assume is structural steel. If anyone feels up to it they can include carbon fibers or even carbon nanotubes, but that's WAY beyond my math skills.
Added for Refference Purposes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tensile...sile_strengths
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_..._Two_and_Three
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