Composite Structures 58 (2002) 83–95

www.elsevier.com/locate/compstruct

Design of fiber-reinforced composite pressure vessels under

various loading conditions
a,* b
Levend Parnas , Nuran Katırcı
a
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Middle East Technical University, 06531 Ankara, Turkey
b
ASELSAN Inc., P.O. Box 30, 06011 Etlik, Ankara, Turkey

Abstract
An analytical procedure is developed to design and predict the behavior of fiber reinforced composite pressure vessels. The
classical lamination theory and generalized plane strain model is used in the formulation of the elasticity problem. Internal pressure,
axial force and body force due to rotation in addition to temperature and moisture variation throughout the body are considered.
Some 3D failure theories are applied to obtain the optimum values for the winding angle, burst pressure, maximum axial force and
the maximum angular speed of the pressure vessel. These parameters are also investigated considering hygrothermal effects.

2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Composite pressure vessels; Filament winding; Generalized plane strain problem; Hygrothermal effects; Burst pressure; Angular speed

1. Introduction combined effect of thermomechanical loading in addi-

The use of fiber reinforced and polymer-based
composites have been increasing. Various numbers of
applications have also been flourishing with this deve-
lopment. Fuel tanks, rocket motor cases, pipes are some
examples of pressure vessels made of composite mate-
rials. Ever increasing use of this new class of materials in
conventional applications is coupled with problems that
are intrinsic to the material itself. Difficulties are many
folded. Determination of material properties, mechani-
cal analysis and design, failure of the structure are some
examples which all require a non-conventional ap-
proach.
Numerous applications concurrently are accompa-
nied by various researches in the related field. Majority
of the studies in the analysis of composite pressure
vessels finds their origins in Lethnitskii’s approach [1].
The application of the theory given in this book is later
applied to laminated composite structures in tubular
form Tsai [2]. The studies followed consider also dif-
ferent loading and environmental conditions. Recently,
there are some studies involved directly with tubes under
internal pressure [3,4]. In the study by Xia et al. [4], the
*
Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: parnas@metu.edu.tr (L. Parnas), katirci@
mgeo.aselsan.com.tr (N. Katırcı).
0263-8223/02/$ - see front matter
2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 2 6 3 - 8 2 2 3 ( 0 2 ) 0 0 0 3 7 - 5
tion to internal pressure is considered.
In this study, an analytical procedure is developed
to design and predict the behavior of fiber-reinforced
composite pressure vessels under combined mechanical
and hygrothermal loading. The mechanical part of
the analysis is similar to the study given in Ref. [5]. The
procedure is based on the classical laminated plate the-
ory. A cylindrical shell having a number of sub-layers,
each of which is cylindrically orthotropic, is treated as in
the state of plane strain. Internal pressure, axial force,
body force due to rotation in addition to temperature
and moisture variation throughout the body are con-
sidered as loading. In the study of Katırcı [6], these
parameters are compared with the experimental results.
2. Formulation of problem
A thick-walled multi-layered filament wound cylin-
drical shell is considered in the analysis based on linear
elasticity solution. The following assumptions are made
for the formulation of the problem.
• The pressure vessel is cylindrically orthotropic,
• the pressure vessel has adjacent
a angle lay-ups and
the adjacent
a lay-ups act as a homogeneous and
orthotropic unit,
84 L. Parnas, N. Katırcı / Composite Structures 58 (2002) 83–95

• the vessel is in state of plane strain and only small In this study, the elastic constants related to the
strains are considered through the analysis, thickness coordinate however, are assumed as Ez0 z0 ¼
• the length of the vessel is such that the longitudinal E33 ¼ E22 and Gy 0 z0 ¼ Gx0 z0 ¼ Gx0 y 0 .
bending deformation due to the end closures of the In a filament-wound pressure vessel, the structure is
vessel are limited to only small end portions of the made-up of several angle lay-ups, each of which acts as
pressure vessel. an orthotropic unit. The elastic constants of each layer is
assumed as equal to effective elastic constants of a bal-
2.1. Effective elastic properties anced and symmetric laminate which has two layers of
winding angles (þa) and (a) with equal thicknesses.
A laminated composite with its own effective elastic The generalized Hooke’s law in cylindrical coordi-
properties, contains a number of anisotropic plates. nates can be written as
When these effective elastic properties of the laminate fegr;h;z ¼ ½afrgr;h;z ð2Þ
are used, the body is considered to responding to the
applied loads as a single unit. The effective elastic For an angle-ply lamina, due to the (
a) configura-
properties of the laminate can be determined using the tion, the shear coupling terms are zero. Then the com-
theory of the laminated plates. pliance matrix [a] can be represented in cylindrical
The filament wound structures, which is the subject of coordinates as
this study, is assumed to be made of angle-ply laminates. 2 3
1 mrh mrz
An angle-ply laminate has alternating lamina having þa 6 Err   0 0 0 7
6 Err Err 7
and a winding angles. Therefore, a filament-wound 6 m 7
6  rh 1 mhz
cylindrical shell, having a wind angle
a can be treated 6  0 0 0 77
as an angle-ply laminate. For multi-layered cylinders, 6 Err Ehh Ehh 7
6 7
each layer is an angle-ply laminate with its own wind 6 mrz mhz 1 7
6  0 0 0 7
angle. Neglecting the effect of curvature, the effective 6 Err Ehh Ezz 7
6
½a ¼ 6 7 ð3Þ
elastic properties of each of these layers can be formu- 1 7
6 0 0 0 0 0 7
lated as follows. 6 Ghz 7
6 7
For an angle-ply lamina where fibers are oriented at 6 7
6 1 7
an angle a with the positive x-axis as shown in Fig. 1, the 6 0 0 0 0 0 7
6 Grz 7
effective elastic properties are given by 6 7
4 1 5

 0 0 0 0 0
1 cos4 a sin4 a 1 m12 Grh
¼ þ þ 2 cos2 a sin2 a
Ex0 x0 E11 E22 G12 E11
The material properties in cylindrical coordinates can


1 sin4 a cos4 a 1 m12 be obtained by simply replacing cartesian coordinates,
¼ þ þ 2 cos2 a sin2 a
Ey 0 y 0 E11 E22 G12 E11 x, y and z, with r, h and z, respectively (Fig. 1).


1 1 m12 1 1 m12 1 1
¼ þ2 þ  þ2 þ  cos2 2a 2.2. Plane stress problem for a body in cylindrical
Gx0 y 0 E11 E11 E22 E11 E11 E22 G12
anisotropy

 
m12 1 m12 1 1
mx0 y 0 ¼ Ex0 x0  þ2 þ  cos2 a sin2 a Lethnitskii [1] started the formulation with the plane
E11 E11 E11 E22 G12
stress condition then the problem is converted to the
Ey 0 y 0
my 0 x0 ¼ m x0 y 0 ð1Þ generalized plane strain problem where axial strain of
Ex0 x0 the system is equal to a constant rather than being zero.
The equilibrium equations, disregarding rzz , and the
equations of generalized Hooke’s Law for a body in
cylindrical anisotropy in cylindrical coordinates are
given by the following equations.
orrr 1 orrh rrr  rhh
þ þ þR¼0 ð4Þ
or r oh r
orrh 1 orhh rrh
þ þ2 þH¼0 ð5Þ
or r oh r
err ¼ a11 rrr þ a12 rhh þ a16 rrh
ehh ¼ a12 rrr þ a22 rhh þ a26 rrh
ð6Þ
ezz ¼ a13 rrr þ a23 rhh þ a36 rrh
Fig. 1. Global, local and material coordinates. crh ¼ a16 rrr þ a22 rhh þ a66 rrh
 L. Parnas, N. Katırcı / Composite Structures 58 (2002) 83–95 85

where R and H are the projections of the body forces compliances and substituting them into Eq. (10), the
along r and h directions, respectively. The axial stress, following non-homogeneous, fourth order differential
rzz , of the generalized plane strain problem will be ob- equation is obtained for an orthotropic cylindrical body
tained by using generalized Hooke’s Law. The strain– for the state of plane stress.
displacement relations for the same body are:


our 1 o4 F 1 2mrh 1 o4 F 1 1 o4 F
err ¼ þ  þ
or Ehh or 4 Grh Err r or oh4 2 2
Err r4 oh4
1 ouh ur

ehh ¼ þ ð7Þ 2 1 o3 F 1 mrh 1 o2 F 1 1 o2 F
r oh r þ 3
 2 
Ehh r or Grh Err r or oh Err r2 or2
3
1 our ouh uh

crh ¼ þ  1  mr 1 1 o2 F 1 1 oF
r oh or r þ 2 þ þ
Err Grh r4 oh2 Err r3 or
By eliminating displacements from Eq. (7), the

equation of compatibility is obtained, which is: 1  mhr o2 U 1  mrh 1 o2 U
¼ þ
Ehh or2 Err r2 oh2
o2 err o2 ðrehh Þ o2 ðrcrh Þ oerr

2
þ r 2
 r ¼0 ð8Þ 2 1 þ mrh 1 oU
oh or oroh or   : ð11Þ
Ehh Err r or
The equilibrium equations given in Eq. (5) are satis-
fied with the following definition of the stress function,
F ðr; hÞ: 2.3. Stresses and displacements for a rotating anisotropic
1 oF 1 oF 2 cylinder
rrr ¼ þ þU
r or r2 oh2
At this point, it is easy to obtain the stress distribu-
o2 F
rhh ¼ 2 þ U ð9Þ tion for an anisotropic rotating cylinder. It is assumed
or
 that the cylinder is orthotropic, so that any radial plane
o2 F is an elastic symmetry plane. For a rotating cylinder, the
rrh ¼ 
or oh r body force potential is given by:
where U is the body force potential.
On the basis of equations of compatibility, stress– qx2 2
U ¼ r ð12Þ
strain relations and equilibrium equations given above, 2
the following differential equation for plane stress case
which is satisfied by the stress function F ðr; hÞ, is ob- where x is the angular speed, q is the density of the
tained material and r is the radial position.
o4 F o4 F 1 o4 F Since the problem is axisymmetric, the stress function
a22  2a 26 þ ð 2a 12 þ a 66 Þ F depends only on r. Using this fact and Eq. (12), Eq.
or4 or3 oh r2 or2 oh2
4 4
(11) can be rearranged for the kth layer as follows:
1 oF 1 oF 1 o3 F
 2a16 3 þ a 11 þ 2a 22
r or oh3 r4 oh4 r or3
3 3 1 4 d4 F 2 3 d3 F 1 2 d2 F 1 dF
1 oF 1 oF r þ r  r þ k r
 ð2a13 þ a66 Þ 3 þ 2a16 4 3 k
Ehh dr 4 k
Ehh dr 3 k
Err dr 2 Err dr
r or oh2 r oh

1 o2 F 1 o2 F 3 2mr þ 1
 a11 2 2 þ 2ða16 þ a26 Þ 3 ¼ k
 qx2 r4 ð13Þ
r or r or oh Ehh Errk
1 o2 F 1 oF
þ 2ða11 þ 2a12 þ a66 Þ 4 2 þ a11 3
r oh r or Eq. (13) is in the form of Euler’s equation and its
1 oF solution yields the following expression for the stress
þ 2ða16 þ a26 Þ 4 function F,
r oh
o2 U 1 o2 U
¼ ða12 þ a22 Þ 2 þ ða16 þ a26 Þ
or r or oh F ðrÞ ¼ Ak þ Bk r2 þ C k r1þg1k þ Dk r1g1k
 ða11  a12 Þ 2
1 o2 U
þ ða11  2a22  a12 Þ
1 oU q x2   Errk
r oh 2
r or þ k 3  2mkrh  e2k k
r4 ð14Þ
2 36Errk  4Ehh
1 oU
þ ða16 þ a26 Þ 2 ð10Þ
r oh k
where ek ¼ ðEhh
1=2
=Errk Þ .
where a16 and a26 vanish for a body having
a angle-ply Using the stress function F ðrÞ and the body force
layers. After introducing the material properties for the potential U in Eq. (9), the stresses can be obtained as:
86 L. Parnas, N. Katırcı / Composite Structures 58 (2002) 83–95

!
    3 þ mkhr
rkrr ¼ 2Bk þ C k 1 þ ek rek 1 þ Dk 1  ek rek 1  qk x2 r2
9  e2k
!
    3mkhr  e2k ð15Þ
rkhh k
¼ 2B þ C k
1 þ ek ek rek 1  Dk 1  ek ek rek 1  qk x2 r2
9  e2k
rkrh ¼ 0

The structure is mechanically subjected to a radial where akij are the components of the compliance tensor in
body force due to rotation, internal pressure and axial cylindrical coordinates for the kth layer. Using the stress
force as shown in Fig. 2. Boundary conditions for the function F ðrÞ, layer stresses can be derived as:
given geometry and loading can be represented as fol-
" !

g 1
lows, k 2 2 3 þ mhr
k
1  cgk k þ3 r k
rrr ¼ qk x bk
9  gk2 1  c2g k bk
For r ¼ rint ) r1rr ¼ Pint and r1rh ¼ 0 !
k
gk 3
gk þ1
2 #
For r ¼ rext ) rnrr ¼ 0 and rnrh ¼ 0 1  ck bk r
þ ckgk þ3 
At the interface of adjacent layers, the following 1  c2g k
k r b k
!"

 #
boundary conditions are applied, qk1 ckgk þ1 r k
g 1
bk k
g þ1
þ 
r ¼ bk1 ) rk1 k
rr ¼ rrr and uk1
r ¼ ukr 1  c2g k bk r
k
!"

gk 1 #
When the boundary conditions are applied, two un- qk bk k
g þ1
r
2gk
known coefficients of the stress function, Ak and Bk are þ 2gk
ck 
1  ck r bk
obtained as zero, and other coefficients as
( ð18Þ
k 1 bk bg
k1
k

C ¼ gk gk qk
( " !
gk 1

1 þ gk ck  ck qk x2 bk 2  1  ckgk þ3
 r
 gk 12gk  rkhh ¼ 3þ gk mkhr
b b þ b1gk ðcgk  cgk Þ
k
9  gk2 1  ck2gk
b k
 k k1 gk k1 gkk qk1 !
ck  ck gk 3
gk þ1 #
" #) 1  ck bk
k gk 32gk 3 gk  ckgk þ3
2 3 þ mhr bk bk1  bk bk1 3gk 1  ck 2gk
r
þ qk x þ bk1
9  gk2 cgk k  cg
k
k

2 )
  r
ð16Þ  gk2 þ 3mkhr
"  bk
1 qk1 bkgk 1  qk bk1gk 1
bk bk1 !"

gk þ1 #
g 1
Dk ¼ qk1 ckgk 1 gk r k bk
1  gk cgk k  cg
k
k
þ 2gk

# 1  ck bk r
3 þ mkhr  2 gk 1 gk 1
 ! "

g þ1 #
g 1
 qk x2 b b  b2k bk1 bk bk1 ð17Þ qk gk r k bk k
9  gk2 k1 k  þ ck2gk
ð19Þ
1  c2gk
k bk r
where ck ¼ bk1 =bk , gk ¼ ðnk11 =nk22 Þ1=2 and k denotes the
layer number. The reduced strain coefficients, nkij , extend In Eqs. (18) and (19), symbols qk1 and qk denote the
the plane stress problem into the generalized plane strain internal and external forces in radial direction acting on
problem as proposed by Lekhnitskii [7]. They can be the kth layer as given in Fig. 3, and mkhr ¼ nk12 =nk22 . Since
defined for a multi-layered cylinder as, the pressure vessel is assumed to be in the state of gen-
eralized plane strain, axial strains of all layers is equal to
aki3 akj3
nkij ¼ akij  i; j ¼ 1; 2 the constant, e0zz . Then the axial stress can be obtained as:
ak33
e0zz 1  
rkzz ¼ k
 k ak13 rkrr þ ak23 rkhh ð20Þ
a33 a33

The displacements are obtained as follows:

 
ukr ¼ r nk12 rkrr þ nk22 rkhh  mkzh e0zz ;
ukh ¼ 0 and ukz ¼ ze0zz ð21Þ
Fig. 2. Mechanical loading on a closed end cylindrical pressure vessel. where mkzh ¼ ak23 =ak33 .
 L. Parnas, N. Katırcı / Composite Structures 58 (2002) 83–95 87

At each layer interface, radial displacements of ad-

jacent layers must be continuous, which follows that:
ukr ðbk Þ ¼ ukþ1
r ðbk Þ ð24Þ
Using Eqs. (23) and (24), a set of simultaneous
equations in terms of qk , one for each interface, is de-
termined as:
uk qkþ1 þ vk qk þ gk qk1 þ x2 kk

k  X !
n
mzh  mkþ1
zh
 2

þ qi1 di þ qi li þ x wi
D i¼1

k  
mzh  mkþ1
zh
 2 2
 FA
Fig. 3. Multi-layered cylinder showing layer notation.
¼ Pint rint  Pext rext þ ð25Þ
D p
g 1 k þ1
For a cylinder with closed ends, the axial equilibrium where, uk ¼ ð2gkþ1 nkþ122 ckþ1
kþ1
Þ=ð1  c2g
kþ1 Þ
is satisfied by the following relation,  
gk bk22 1 þ c2g k

X n Z bk k
uk ¼ b12  k
þ bkþ1
12
2gk
2p 2
rkzz r dr ¼ print ðPint  Pext Þ þ FA ð22Þ 1  ck
bk1
 
2g
k¼1
gkþ1 bkþ1
22 1 þ ckþ1kþ1
where rint is the internal radius of the cylinder. Substi-  2g
tuting Eqs. (18) and (19) for rkrr and rkhh into Eq. (20) for 1  ckþ1kþ1
rkzz and evaluating the integral in Eq. (22), the relation
2gk nk12 ckgk þ1
for e0zz is determined as: gk ¼
" 1  c2g k
k

1   FA
e0zz ¼ 2
Pint rint 2
 Pext rext þ ( " !
D p qk nk22   1  2ckgk þ3 þ c2g k

# kk ¼ b2k gk 3 þ mhr k k
9  gk2 1  c2g k
Xn
  #
k
2
 qk1 dk þ qk lk þ x wk ð23Þ   q nkþ1  
k¼1  gk2 þ 3mkhr  b2kþ1 kþ1 22 2
gkþ1 3 þ mkþ1
hr
Pn b2k b2k1
9  gkþ1
where, D ¼ k¼1 ak33
and gkþ1 1 2g þ2
! )
( 2ckþ1  ckþ1kþ1  c2kþ1  2 
kþ1 2
2 bk ckgk þ1  
2g
 gkþ1 þ 3mhr ckþ1
dk ¼   ak13 þ gk ak23 ðbk  cgk k bk1 Þ 1  ckþ1kþ1
ak33 1  c2g
k
k 1 þ gk
) Therefore, the unknown interface pressures, qk , are
bk1  k  g solved by using Eq. (25), which eventually leads to the
 a  gk ak23 ðbk ck k  bk1 Þ
1  gk 13 complete solution of the elasticity problem.

2 bk  k 
lk ¼ k  2gk
 a13 þ gk ak23 ðbk  cgk k bk1 Þ 2.4. Analysis of pressure vessels using thin wall theory
a33 1  ck 1 þ g k
gk 
bk c k  
þ ak13  gk ak23 ðbk cgk k  bk1 Þ The thickness ratio is defined as the ratio between
1  gk external and internal radii of the pressure vessel. For
  (
 pressure vessels of thickness ratios less than 1.1, the thin
2qk b2k 3 þ mkhr ak13 ak23
wk ¼ þ gk wall analysis can satisfactorily be used. In this theory,
9  gk2 ak33 ak33 the radial stress is assumed to be zero in addition to
!
1  ckgk þ3  gk þ1 gk þ1  hoop and axial stresses to be constant through the

 2gk
 bk bk1  b2k thickness. The hoop and the axial stresses of a pressure
1  c k ð 1 þ gk Þ

k    ! vessel subjected to internal and external pressure, and an
a13 ak23 1  ckgk 3 ckgk þ3 axial force can be calculated, respectively, as follows:
þ  gk  
ak33 ak33 1  c2g
k
k
ð 1  gk Þ

k   ðPint  Pext Þrint
 gk þ1 gk þ1  a ak23 gk2 þ 3mkhr rhh ¼ and

bk bk1  bk þ 2 13
þ t
ak33 ak33 ð3 þ mkhr Þ ðPint  Pext Þrint FA

 ) rzz ¼ þ ð26Þ
1  4  2t 2print t

2
bk  b4k1
4bk
where t is the wall thickness of the vessel.
88 L. Parnas, N. Katırcı / Composite Structures 58 (2002) 83–95
2.5. Environmental effects on composite materials
The influence of environmental factors, such as ele-
vated temperature, humidity and corrosive fluids must
be taken into consideration since they affect mechanical
and physical properties of composite materials resulting
in a change of the mechanical performance. The effect of
the elevated temperature can be seen in the composite
material properties with a decrease in the modulus
and strength because of thermal softening. Especially
in polymer-based composites, the matrix-dominated
properties are more affected then the fiber-dominated
properties. For example, the longitudinal strength and
modulus of a unidirectional composite specimen remain
almost constant but off-axis properties of the same
specimen are significantly reduced as the temperature
approaches the glass transition temperature of the
polymer. When exposed to humid air or water envi-
ronment, many polymeric matrix composites absorb
moisture by instantaneous surface absorption followed
by diffusion through the matrix. Analysis of moisture
absorption shows that for epoxy and polyester matrix
composites, the moisture concentration increases ini-
tially with time and approaches an equilibrium (satu-
ration) level after several days of exposure to humid
environments [2].
2.6. Hygrothermal degradation
In addition to creating stresses, temperature and
moisture degrade the material properties as well. By fol-
lowing the method given by Tsai [2], the non-dimen-
sional temperature T  can be defined as,
ðTg  Topr Þ
T ¼ ð28Þ
ðTg  Trm Þ
where Tg is the glass-transition temperature, Topr is the
operation temperature and Trm is the room temperature.
It is also assumed that the moisture suppresses the glass
transition temperature by a simple moisture shift as,
Tg ¼ Tg0  gc ð29Þ
where Tg0 is the glass-transition temperature at the dry
state, g is the temperature shift per unit moisture ab-
sorbed and c is the moisture absorption of the structure.
The term T  is used to empirically fit the fiber and ma-
trix stiffness and strength data as functions of both
moisture and temperature.
Using empirical fiber and matrix properties, the ply
stiffness and strength properties are given here [2], first
in terms of stiffness ratios as
vf  f 0
E11 ¼ ðT Þ E11
v0f
h   ih   i
The analysis of composites due to elevated tempera-  a 0  b 0 1  f 0 1
E22 ðT Þ E m þ ðT Þ g y vf  1 ðT Þ Ef 1 þ 0  1 g0y
ture and moisture absorption is called as ‘‘hygrothermal ¼ h   i h i
vf
0  b
problem’’. It can be solved mainly in three steps: First, E22 Em0 þ 1
 1 g0y Ef0 1 þ ðTvf Þ  ðT  Þb ðT  Þa ðT  Þf
v0f
the temperature distribution and the moisture content h 0 b ih i
gs ðT Þ ð1vf Þ g0 ð1v0 Þ
inside the material are calculated. Then from known Es vf
þ 1 G10 þ sv0 G0 f
f m
¼  
f
temperature and moisture distribution, the hygrother- Es0  g0s v0m 1 ðT  Þb g0s ð1vf Þ
mal deformations and stresses are calculated. Finally, 1 þ v0 
ðT Þ Gf 0 þ 
v ðT Þ G b 0
f f f m
the changes in performance due to both affects are
ð30Þ
determined. The assumptions used through these steps
and strength ratios as
are:
X vf h
¼ ðT  Þ
• temperature and moisture content inside the material X 0 v0f

e
vary only in the thickness direction, X0 vf  h E s
• thermal conductivity of the material is independent of ¼ ðT Þ ð31Þ
X 00 v0f Es0
temperature and moisture level,
Y Y0 S d
• the environmental conditions (temperature and mois- ¼ ¼ ¼ ðT  Þ
ture level) are constant. Y 0 Y 00 S 0
where g is the mutual influence coefficient and subscripts
The temperature distribution is obtained by using the f and m denote fiber and matrix, respectively. The
one dimensional steady-state heat conduction analy- constants a, b, d, f and h are determined empirically and
sis throughout the body. So for the kth layer, one can the exponent for example on X 0 denotes the values of
write: the corresponding property X obtained at room tem-
perature with 0.5% moisture content.
Tk ¼ Tk1  qRk ð27Þ
Pn
where q ¼ ðTint  Text Þ= i¼1 Ri and Rk ¼ Kk =hk . 2.7. Hygrothermal stresses
Here Tk temperature, hk thickness and Kk are the
thermal conductivity of the kth layer, respectively. In The hygrothermal and mechanical strains can be su-
this study, the moisture content is taken as constant and perposed in strain level to obtain total strains as,
equal to the saturated moisture level throughout the
material. etot mech
ij ¼ eij þ ehygr
ij ð32Þ
 L. Parnas, N. Katırcı / Composite Structures 58 (2002) 83–95
or
etot mech
ij ¼ eij þ aij DT þ bij c
where aij and bij are thermal and moisture expansion
coefficients, respectively.
Total stresses however, can be obtained using aniso-
tropic stress–strain relations. Total stresses due to hy-
grothermal and mechanical loads can be written as,
rtot
1tot
ij ¼ ½a eij ð33Þ
2.8. Failure analysis
The main reason for performing the stress analysis is
to determine the failure behavior of the pressure vessel.
Design of a structure or a component is performed by
comparing stresses (or strains) created by applied loads
with the allowable strength (or strain capacity) of the
material [2]. Tsai–Hill, Tsai–Wu [8], Hoffman [9] and
3D-Quadratic Failure Theories [2] are used in this study
for comparison and it is seen that 3D-Quadratic Failure
Criteria gives the most conservative results for strength.
3. Numerical solution
In order to see how structures behave, the numerical
results are necessary for a given material, geometry and
loading combination. A preliminary design package
program is developed using the derived formulation of
stresses. In order to determine the burst pressure, the
maximum axial force and the maximum angular speed,
the performance (load carrying capacity) of the specified
composite pressure vessel is taken as the only limiting
value. The strength ratio is the ratio between the maxi-
mum or ultimate strength and the applied stress. It must
be slightly larger than one because of the safety reason.
Burst pressure and maximum angular speed are deter-
mined by using the first-ply failure criterion and maxi-
mum axial force is determined by using the last-ply
failure criterion.
The winding angle obtained by developed computer
program is called as optimum without using any opti-
mization procedure. This is not wrong because only one
constraint is taken into account, which has to be maxi-
mized in this case and all possible solutions are checked
every time to get the winding angle satisfying the con-
straints.
Since the winding angle varies between 0 and 90,
layer stresses are obtained for each angle with a step size
of 0.1. The strength ratios of the worst layers are
compared with each other. Then the angle having the
highest strength ratio is taken as the optimum winding
angle for the specified loading and geometry conditions.
89
4. Discussion of results
The design outputs of the computer program are
optimum winding angle, burst pressure and maximum
angular speed of the vessel for a given material, geo-
metry and loading combination. Also the affects of axial
force and hygrothermal forces on burst pressure and
angular speed are studied. In each of these analysis, the
material used is a graphite-epoxy composite (T300/
N5208). The properties of the unidirectional laminate of
this material are given in Table 1. Note that the residual
stresses due to material itself are not considered in this
study.
4.1. Optimum winding angle
In literature [5], the optimum winding angle for fila-
ment wound composite pressure vessels is given as
54.74 by netting analysis. Using the current procedure
for the internal pressure loading, the optimum winding
angle is obtained as ranging between 52.1 and 54.2
depending on geometry and failure criteria used. 3D-
Quadratic Failure Criterion always gives greater opti-
mum winding angle than other theories, because the
circumferential stress or strain is more effective in this
criterion. If angular speed is applied at the same time
with the internal pressure, the optimum winding angle
values obtained for the pure internal pressure case are
increased and shifted to 90.
4.2. Stress distribution
The stress distribution through the thickness of a
filament wound vessel is not uniform but varying de-
pending on the geometry and loading. The stress graphs
for pure internal pressure and pure angular speed cases
with a constant winding angle of 53, are given in Figs. 4
and 5, respectively. The symbols a and b represent
Table 1
Properties of unidirectional laminate (T300/N5208)
Elastic modulus in fiber direction (GPa) 181
Elastic modulus in matrix direction (GPa) 10.3
In plane shear modulus (GPa) 7.17
Major Poisson’s ratio 0.28
Ultimate tensile strength in fiber direction (MPa) 1500
Ultimate compressive strength in fiber direction (MPa) 1500
Ultimate tensile strength in matrix direction (MPa) 40
Ultimate compressive strength in matrix direction (MPa) 146
Ultimate in-plane shear strength (MPa) 68
Thermal expansion coefficient in fiber direction (106 /C) 0.02
Thermal expansion coefficient in matrix direction (106 /C) 22.5
Moisture expansion coefficient in fiber direction 0
Moisture expansion coefficient in matrix direction 0.6
Thermal conductivity normal to the thickness direction 0.865
(W/m per C)
90 L. Parnas, N. Katırcı / Composite Structures 58 (2002) 83–95

Fig. 4. Radial, axial and circumferential stress distributions for pure internal pressure.

internal and external radii of the tube, respectively. The
stresses are normalized with the values of thin-wall so-
lution. In Fig. 4, the results for radial stresses and to
some degree with hoop stresses are similar with the ones
of Ref. [5]. However, the axial stress distributions show
a considerable difference. The errors in the formulation
of Ref. [5] would be a reason for the difference; another
reason might be originated from the fact that a variable
winding angle (54–56) was considered in Ref. [5], con-
trary to the constant winding angle used in the current
study.
As it can be seen in Fig. 5, the thin-wall analysis gives
only an average result. When thickness increases, the
thick-wall analysis has to be used, instead. Radial stress
is zero at the inside and outside of the pressure vessel
and positive through the thickness. Its maximum value
is approximately at the mid-point of the thickness.
When the wall thickness is increased, the layer having
maximum radial stress becomes closer to the inner
boundary of the pressure vessel. Larger circumferential
and axial stresses are obtained at the inner layers of the
vessel. In Fig. 5, it is seen that axial stress always
changes sign at the point where the radial stress reaches
to a maximum.
4.3. Thick- and thin-walled solutions for burst pressure
The corresponding burst pressure values are obtained
using an iterative procedure where the loading is in-
creased until the failure of a single layer. In Fig. 6, the
burst pressure, Pburst , by using both thin and thick-wal-
led solution techniques are plotted versus winding angle.
The burst pressure is normalized with that of 0 winding
angle. For the thin-wall tube, both thick and thin-wall
 L. Parnas, N. Katırcı / Composite Structures 58 (2002) 83–95 91

Fig. 5. Radial, axial and circumferential stress distributions for pure angular speed.

Fig. 6. Variation of burst pressure with increasing winding angle [rext =rint ¼ 1:05].

solutions predict almost the same burst pressure. Actu- walled analysis are slightly higher than those obtained
ally, since the thin-wall solution neglects the radial with thick-walled analysis. The agreement between these
stress, burst pressure values obtained with the thin- two solutions is satisfied except for the values near the
92 L. Parnas, N. Katırcı / Composite Structures 58 (2002) 83–95

Fig. 7. Variation of burst pressure with increasing winding angle [rext =rint ¼ 1:4].

Fig. 8. Burst pressure for increasing wall thickness.

optimum winding angle where they differ for thick and
thin-wall solutions.
For a thick pressure vessel (Fig. 7), there is a signif-
icant difference between thin-wall and thick-wall solu-
tions especially near the optimum winding angle. In this
wall thickness value (rext =rint ¼ 1:40), the thick-wall so-
lution gives higher burst pressure than the thin-wall
solution between angles 48 and 64.
To check the limiting value of the thin-wall solution
on the wall thickness, burst pressures are calculated for
increasing wall thickness Thin-wall and thick-wall so-
lutions yield very similar burst pressure values up to the
thickness ratio of rext =rint ¼ 1:1. For thicknesses with
rext =rint P 1:1, the deviation between thick and thin-wall
solutions becomes larger (Fig. 8).
4.4. Effect of angular speed and axial force on burst
pressure
The effect of angular speed and axial force on the
burst pressure can be seen in Fig. 9. The burst pressure
decreases with angular speed, when the winding angle is
less than its optimum value. It is not an expected result,
since the burst pressure increases with the speed for
angles greater than the optimum winding angle. The
burst pressure increases in negligible amount for in-
creasing axial tensile force for angles smaller than the
optimum winding angle. If the winding angle of the
structure is larger than its optimum value, the burst
pressure always decreases with increasing axial force.
4.5. Maximum angular speed
The effect of wall thickness and winding angle on the
maximum angular speed can be seen in Fig. 10. If only
angular speed is applied, the optimum winding angle is
obtained as ranging between 81 and 83 depending on
the wall thickness of the structure. For small winding
angles up to 30, the thin and thick-wall constructions
give almost the same maximum angular speed. As the
wall thickness increases, the maximum angular speed
decreases opposite to the case of burst pressure. It is an
expected result, since an increasing wall thickness means
more inertia that affects the speed in the negative sense.
4.6. Hygrothermal stresses and strains
Hygrothermal stresses in the macro-mechanical level
calculated by using the laminated plate theory. In order
to assess the effects of residual stresses on the failure of
 L. Parnas, N. Katırcı / Composite Structures 58 (2002) 83–95 93

Fig. 9. Effect of angular speed and axial force on burst pressure [rext =rint ¼ 1:05].

Fig. 10. Maximum angular velocity versus winding angle.

composite materials, the hygrothermal expansion coef- Since the curing temperature is the stress free state for
ficients have to be determined correctly. As a sample composite materials, the operation temperature affects
calculation of hygrothermal stresses, the data given in the failure of the composite depending on whether it is
Table 2 for T300/N5208 [2] is used where DF is the below or above the curing temperature. If the operation
degradation factor. temperature is less than zero or if it is less than the
curing temperature, the burst pressure is increased since
the thermal strains and mechanical strains for pure in-
ternal pressure case work in opposite senses. It should be
Table 2 pointed out that, the negative temperature for constant
Hygrothermal effects on burst pressure [rext =rint ¼ 1:05, a ¼ 53] moisture content also cause an increase in the mechan-
Topr (C) 22 22 122 122 122 ical properties of the composite material. It can be
c (%) 0 0 0 0 1 concluded that if the operation temperature is less
DF (%) 0 0 0 10 30 than the curing temperature, burst pressure is increased.
Pburst (MPa) 18.3 20.3 16.3 14.4 12.1
If operation temperature is greater than the curing
94 L. Parnas, N. Katırcı / Composite Structures 58 (2002) 83–95
Fig. 11. Effect of temperature on burst pressure for different operating temperatures.
temperature, however, both thermal and mechanical
strains have a cumulative effect. This can be seen as a
decrease in burst pressure values in Fig. 11.
Although, the performance of the composite material
is negatively influenced by the presence of moisture, it
creates less residual strains compared with the thermal
ones and does not change the burst pressure, signifi-
cantly.
5. Conclusion
An analytical procedure is developed to assess the
behavior of a cylindrical composite structure under
loading conditions particular to a rocket motor case.
Available loading conditions are internal pressure, axial
force and body force due to rotation. Additionally,
temperature and moisture variations throughout the
body are considered in the analysis. The procedure is
based on the classical laminated plate theory. It models
the plane strain state of the cylindrical body, which
consists of a number of cylindrical sub-layers.
The cylindrical pressure vessel is analyzed using two
approaches, which are thin wall and thick wall solutions.
It is shown that for composite pressure vessels with a
ratio of outer to inner radius, up to 1.1, two approaches
give similar results in terms of the optimum winding
angle, the burst pressure, etc. As the ratio increases, the
thick wall analysis is required.
The optimum winding angle for the thick-wall pres-
sure vessel analysis with the pure internal pressure
loading case is obtained as ranging between 52.1 and
54.1 degrees depending on the material type. If the an-
gular speed is applied at the same time with the internal
pressure, optimum winding angle values obtained for
the pure internal pressure case are shifted towards
90. The influence of the axial force is, however, opposite
to the one of the angular speed. The addition of the axial
force has a decreasing effect on the winding angle.
The burst pressure value is greatly depends on the
analysis type used. The deviation between thin and
thick-wall solutions is quite large especially near the
optimum winding angle. As the wall thickness is in-
creased, the thick-wall solution gives almost 30% higher
burst pressure values. Therefore, the thin-wall analysis is
said to be an average but a safe analysis.
If angular speed is applied, the maximum stress
occurs in the hoop direction. The optimum winding
angle of the analyzed body for this type of loading is
obtained as ranging between 81 and 83. The value of
the maximum angular speed that the system can be ro-
tated is greatly affected by the thickness of the pressure
vessel.
Hygrothermal effects are analyzed in this study in two
levels. The effect of temperature and moisture to the
performance of the materials is determined by using the
micromechanics of the composite materials. By taking a
linear variation of temperature and constant value for
moisture content throughout the body, hygrothermal
stresses and strains are determined. Since the thermal
and moisture expansion coefficients of the materials
have to be determined experimentally, always some
amount of error is expected in these calculations.
If the material has a tendency of expanding due to a
positive temperature difference, the increasing operating
temperature is shown to reduce the mechanical perfor-
mance of the system.
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