The effect of filament-winding mosaic patterns on the strength of thin-walled composite shells

Abstract

The paper deals with the modelling and stress analysis of filament-wound composite shells. Existing approaches to the structural analysis of composite shells are usually based on the implementation of mechanics of composite laminates. However, there are some manufacturing effects, specific for the filament-winding process, which could significantly affect the stress and strain fields in the thin-walled composite shells. One of such effects is related to the filament-winding mosaic pattern of the composite layer and usually is not considered in the general stress analysis procedures, including existing finite element software packages. The paper presents results of the modelling and analysis of composite cylindrical shells with different types of filament-winding mosaic patterns. The differences in the numerically predicted stress values caused by the mosaic pattern effect are demonstrated using particular examples. As shown, the actual level of stresses in the thin-walled filament wound composite shells could be underestimated in some cases by the stress analysis based on the conventional mechanics of laminated structures.