Abstract
Because of their high specific strength and stiffness, filament-wound composite materials have been used in weight critical structural members such as rocket motors.
An analytical method to predict the fracture strength of filament-wound cylindrical tube under axial compression is proposed. That is, the threedimensional stress components referring to the plane including fibers are analysed taking account of the elastic failure prior to the overall fracture and are then compared with the fundamental strengths corresponding to the four kinds of fracture mechanisms of unidirectional fiberreinforced composites. Axial compression testson reinforced plastic tubes which are helically wound byg lassfibers show a good agreement with the predicted fracture strength and fracture behaviors. Together with the results already described on the fractures of filament-wound tubes under axial tension, torsion, internal pressure and rotation, the proposed method is found to be useful for the optimum design of filamentwound structures.
