The sensitivity of the burst performance of impact damaged pressure vessels to material strength properties

Abstract

This numerical study is carried out to improve the understanding of short-term residual strength of impacted composite pressure vessels. The relationship between the impact, created damage and residual strength is predicted by finite element (FE) analysis. The burst predictions depend largely on the strength properties used in the material models. However, it is typically not possible to measure all laminate properties on filament wound structures. Reasonable testing efforts are concentrated on critical properties, while obtaining other less sensitive parameters from e.g. literature. A parametric FE model is hereby employed to identify the critical strength properties, focusing on the cylindrical section of the pressure vessel. The model simulates an impactor strike on an empty vessel, which is subsequently pressurized until burst. Monte Carlo Simulations (MCS) are employed to investigate the correlations between strength related material parameters and the burst pressure. The simulations indicate the fracture toughness of the composite, hoop layer tensile strength and the yield stress of the PE liner as the most influential parameters for current vessel and impact configurations. In addition, the conservative variation in strength parameters is shown to have a rather moderate effect (COV ca. 7%) on residual burst pressures.