Structural Analyses of FRP Pressure Vessels for Natural Gas Vehicles

摘要

Natural gas vehicles are now attracted extensive public attention for the reason of reducing atmospheric pollution and they are considered as one of the most reliable and promising alternative fuel vehicles. In order to realize these vehicles, light pressure vessels, containing highly compressed gas should be developed. Before discussing the pressure vessel having domes and for deeply understanding it, the present paper first discusses the mechanical' behaviors and structural optimum design of cylindrical pressure vessels from the two viewpoints of initial failure and ultimate fracture. Next, this paper describes the structural analyses of all composite vessels in which thermoplastic polymer is used as a liner and it is wound circumferentially and helically with CFRP. Furthermore, this paper shows the effects of using hybrid FRP as the winding material on the maximum values of stresses and compares the results of the thermoplastic liner with ones of aluminum alloy.