Analysis of composite pressure vessel and composite overwrapped pressure vessel by analytical and finite elemental approach

Abstract

Finite element analysis (FEA) was used to investigate the effects of different metal thicknesses on burst pressure and deformation of composite over wrapped pressure vessel (COPV) under fluid force. Low carbon steel and Carbon- epoxy had been selected as the materials for COPV. A constant fiber orientation angle had been considered. FEA results had been compared and found to be in good agreement with those obtained from analytical equations to validate the final element approach. Analysis had been extended to pure composite pressure vessels and COPV varying thickness of metal and keeping constant composite layer thickness to study the overwrapping effect. The metal layer was varied from 1 to 3 mm keeping constant composite layer thickness (3 mm). The COPV exhibited bursting strength greater than that of composite vessels considered for the analysis. The results showed that COPV with equal metal and composite layer offered the greatest bursting strength.