Abstract
A series of research works on the analytical approach for estimating the burst strength and on the optimum design of filament-wound(FW) pressure vessels are summarized.
The mechanical behaviors and the structural optimum design are discussed from the two viewpoints of (ⅰ) initial failure and (ⅱ) ultimate fracture, taking account of the four kinds of fundamental failure mechanisms of unidirectional composites. The ultimate fracture after initial failure is analysed by considering the degradation of stiffnesses corresponding to the initial failure modes. The two types of vessels, that is, the helical-wound cylindrical ones and the filament-wound ones which are wound together with domes en bloc are discussed.
The experiments on such FW vessels showed good agreements with the analytical predictions not only of the burst pressures but also of the burst behaviors or the pressure-strain curves up to ultimate fracture. Based on these strength analyses and experimental evidences, the optimum winding angles, lamination ratios and dome shapes are proposed.
Several kinds of rocket chambers were developed based on the above-mentioned structural analyses and optimum designs. Some of them were launched successfully giving a considerable weight reduction compared with the previous metal chambers.
