Externally pressurized filament wound domes—scope for optimization

Abstract

Optimal meridional shape and thickness distributions in a filament wound dome closure were investigated in order to increase shell buckling strength under static external pressure. The meridional shape was sought amongst generalized ellipses. The variable thickness profile was obtained through appropriate stacking sequence of continuously wound pre-preg carbon in polar mode. Significant increases in the collapse pressures were obtained for some analysed configurations. The collapse strength of optimally wound domes was then compared with quasi-isotropic lay-up of woven and vacuum bagged closures having the same mass and meridional shape. The latter models were, in many cases, stronger than their wound counterparts. The complex method of Box was used as an optimizer. Bifurcation buckling, axisymmetric snap-through and first ply failure were included in the evaluation procedure.