J0320202 A Computer Program for Modeling of Filament-Wound Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic(CFRP) Pressure Vessel with Complicated Layer Structures

Abstract

For popularization of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, adequate amount of hydrogen refueling stations is indispensable. Accumulators are regarded as important parts for the stations, and have to be made with low cost and enough reliabilities. Conventional steel accumulators have problems of manufacturing such as heat treatment of heavy-walled vessels to cope with holding higher pressure than before. That is the reason why Type3 CFRP pressure vessels are commonly used at the stations. The CFRP pressure vessels have been manufactured by trial and error manner, since it is difficult to make up accurate model of dome part where helical winding CFRP layers are layered complicatedly. We have developed a computer software to describe the complex layered structure accurately for finite element analysis. We demonstrate its validity in problem of better understanding the results of cyclic pressure tests of the Type3 CFRP pressure vessels.