Burst strength analysis of composite overwrapped pressure vessel using finite element method

Abstract

The purpose of this numerical study was to investigate the burst performance of a type III composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV) using finite element methods. An Aluminum overwrapped composites pressure vessel was modeled from four layers of carbon fiber/epoxy ply with 0.762 mm and arranged in two different sequences and orientations. The overwrap composite pressure vessel burst performance was examined by applying an internal pressure of 55 MPa on a ply arrangement of [-15°/0°/+15o /90°] and other research findings on [+55o /-55o ] as an optimum filament winding angle were used for comparison purpose. Moreover a ply level orientation effect analysis, which is a superior feature of ABAQUS, was used for the composite modelling. The designed ply sequence and orientation exhibit a higher burst pressure at [0o ] ply and minimum at [90o] ply orientation. The vertical COPV design displays a maximum stress along the axial direction that leads to the consideration of maximum vessel thickness to be along axial direction for burst resistant design of COPV.