A comprehensive review on the performance analysis of composite overwrapped pressure vessels

Abstract

In recent decades due to the emerging use of composites, earlier metallic vessels have moved to composite overwrapped design. Even though the weight reduction is possible over earlier metallic vessels, various factors such as fluid-wall interaction, failure modes and effect of winding pattern in composite overwrapped pressure vessels need to be very seriously considered for getting a successful design. This paper provides a detailed review on various works carried by the researchers to evaluate the performance of composite overwrapped pressure vessels under various design and environmental factors. These variables include the geometry factors (size & shape of dome, length of cylindrical section), design factors (winding angle, winding thickness, thickness of the liner & overwrap, materials for liner & overwrap, interviewing), defects (notches, flaws), loading conditions (internal & external pressure, axial load, torsion, impact, fatigue, vibration) and the performance parameters (burst pressure, fatigue life, failure modes, leaks, deformations).

Keywords

• composite overwrapped pressure vessels
• finite element model
• failure analysis
• performance evaluation