Burst failure of layered composite pipe

Abstract

Composite pressure vessels exhibit many advantages such as high strength, lightweight and excellent resistance to fatigue and corrosion. This makes them very popular for usage in various different industries such as aerospace, chemical engineering, and the transport of oil and gas. However, these pressure vessels experience very high internal pressures during their operation. As a result, the burst pressure analysis of them becomes vital for safety purposes.

In the analysis, the pressure vessel is designed and modelled using the finite element software, ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL) 16.2. A simulation of the burst failure test is carried out and the burst pressure of the composite pipe is predicted based on the maximum stress criteria.

Two parameters, the winding angle and stacking sequence of laminates, are analyzed in the project. Different configurations are investigated and the values are compared with experimental results. There is good agreement between model prediction and experimental data. Limitations are discussed and recommendations are suggested to further improve the investigations done on the burst pressure of composite pipes.