Design and Analysis of Opening Closure on the Composite Vessel Subjected to External Pressure

Composites are commonly used in pressure vessels. One of the critical problems in manufacturing composite vessel under the external pressure is sealed opening design and its considerations. It's required to review the body resistance in opening locations. In this paper, a special design process for opening closure presented and the influence of such cutouts on vessel body studied. Because of the importance of body resistance, the vessel material and structure mechanical performance were analytically evaluated. Then, Mechanical behavior of the vessel structure was investigated based on the parameters affecting the definition of different opening designs through finite element simulation and analysis in ABAQUS commercial code/software. Hence, the effect of the presence of openings, including the consequences of creating asymmetry in the structure, has been determined in a large aspect ratio. Finally, the results represents, the importance of complying practical requirements and implementation of reinforcement rings in the opening locations to get the suitable design as one of the most effective solutions to compensate the opening reduction consequences i.e.; buckling strength reduction and highly increasing asymmetry.