Long Term Properties of Hydrogen Pressure Vessels

Eivind Hugaas and Andreas T. Echtermeyer
NTNU

At present, many models and data exist on long-term properties and fatigue of simple flat pieces of composite laminates. However, this knowledge is not directly applicable to pressure vessels and pressure vessel cut-outs, which differ in production method and geometry from such laminates. Had there been a better connection, many models and extensive amounts of fatigue data could have been employed with higher confidence.

An increased understanding is necessary to establish a connection between results from small scale testing of pressure vessel cut-outs to the fatigue life of the actual pressure vessel and that of flat laminates. This project develops modeling and testing techniques to establish this link using a composite fracture mechanics based approach.

Experimental data and modeling work will be shown.