Evaluation of the mechanical performance of a composite multi-cell tank for cryogenic storage
Part II – Experimental assessment
Ilias G. Tapeinos (Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies)
Aydin Rajabzadeh (TU Delft - Signal Processing Systems)
D. S. Zarouchas (Structural Integrity & Composites)
Malte Stief (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR))
Roger M. Groves (Structural Integrity & Composites)
S. Koussios (Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies)
Benedictus Rinze (TU Delft - Aerospace Structures & Materials)
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Abstract
This study focuses on the understanding of the thermal and structural behavior of an innovative Type IV multi-spherical composite-overwrapped pressure vessel through an experimental assessment that consists of hydrostatic testing at ambient conditions and pressure cycling with a cryogenic medium (LN2). During hydro-burst testing at a high displacement rate, the strain and damage progression is monitored with Digital-Image-Correlation (DIC) and Acoustic Emission (AE) techniques respectively. The effect of filling with LN2, pressure cycling and draining on the composite overwrap temperature gradient and strain evolution is additionally obtained with Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) and thermocouples. Utilization of AE helped to reveal the different damage mechanisms occurring and enabled the evaluation of the pressure window of the multi-sphere. The experimental measurements in the cryogenic regime verified the suitability of the involved stiffness and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) fitting functions developed in [32] that enable to establish of a relationship between strain and temperature during cryogenic chill-down and pressure cycling. This study provides a framework about the suitability of conformal Type IV multi-spherical COPVs for cryogenic storage.