Finite element analysis of composite pressure vessels with a load sharing metallic liner

A numerical analysis of filament-reinforced internally pressurized cylindrical vessels with over-wrapped metallic liner is presented. The method uses the load-bearing liner approach and leak-before-rupture as design criteria. The structure is modeled as an elastic, ideally plastic liner-reinforced with a quasi-isotropic elastic composite. Based on a balanced stress condition in the pressure vessel, the head shape is obtained by a numerical solution of an elliptic integral. The winding process creates a variable thickness in dome area and results in considerable changes in the on-axis stress distribution incorporated in this study. A 3-D,2-node interface element is also used to model contact at discrete points between the metallic liner and its surrounded composite shell. Numerical results are reported for the effects of different head shapes and the superiority of optimum geodesic head shapes in reducing the maximum stresses is also investigated. Incorporating the metallic liner in the analysis produces marked changes in on-axis stresses and resultant displacements. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.