Session: 03-15-01: Multifunctional Materials, Structures and Devices: Modeling, Design, Manufacturing, and Characterization

Paper Number: 70945

Start Time: Thursday, 01:10 PM

70945 - First-Ply Failure Pressure of Symmetric Laminated Hybrid Composite CNG Tank 

In recent year’s use of compressed natural gas (CNG) as a fuel for the automobile is growing rapidly, as it is cheap and environmental friendly compared to gasoline and diesel fuel. To improve fuel efficiency, lightweight composite pressure vessel tanks are used for the storage of CNG. Due to high specific strength, fiber-reinforced composites are most widely used. Synthetic fibers like carbon, glass fiber are used for the fabrication of these pressure vessels.

In the last few decades, due to environmental concerns, the hybridization of synthetic fiber with natural fiber has gained the attention of researchers. This paper focuses study on the effect of adding natural fiber on first ply failure (FPF) pressure based on the Tsai-Wu failure criterion. The effect of laminate stacking sequence on first ply failure pressure for carbon/epoxy, E-glass/epoxy, and hybridization of these fibers with abaca fiber is studied. Abaca is strongest among other natural fibers as it contains high cellulose contain which is responsible strength of the fiber. CNG tank with 30 litre capacity, inside diameter 261mm, thickness 12 mm, applied pressure of 25 MPa with both ends closed is considered. Stacking sequence of symmetric laminate [(90)₂/±θ/(90)₂]_S, for different orientation of helical winding i.e. θ = 15⁰,25⁰,35⁰,45⁰,55⁰,60⁰,75⁰ is analysed for these composite materials. A hybrid tube made of synthetic and natural fiber with uniform thickness is considered. The simulation results of the first ply failure pressure are compared with theoretical results. Autodesk Helius Composite software is used for calculating material properties and first ply failure analysis.

It is observed that burst pressure decreases as helical angle θ increases and for stacking sequence of [(90)₂/±15/(90)₂]_s burst pressure is maximum for all tubes. Burst pressure of hybrid carbon/Abaca tube reduces by 69.5% to 42% for winding angle between 15⁰ to 45⁰ as compared to standard carbon tube. For hybrid E-Glass/Abaca tube burst pressure reduction was in the range of 21% to 4.7% for winding angle between 15⁰ to 45⁰ as compared to standard E-Glass tube. For hybrid Carbon/Abaca tube the drop in burst pressure is less 23.7% to 1.74% respectively compared to carbon tube for helical angle in the range 55⁰ to 75⁰. Slight improvement in burst pressure (1.14 % to 7.5%) is observed for the helical angle between 55⁰ to 75⁰ in the case of hybrid E-Glass/Abaca tube as compared to E-Glass tube only. For E-Glass tube intermediate lamina can be replaced by Abaca fiber.

 

Keywords: Hybrid composite tubes, first ply failure, Burst pressure

Presenting Author: Ganesh Shrigandhi MIT World Peace University

Authors:

Ganesh Shrigandhi MIT World Peace University
Mihil Shah MIT World Peace University
Basavraj S. Kothavale MIT World Peace University