Reliability-based load and resistance factor design of composite pressure vessel under external hydrostatic pressure

A reliability-based load and resistance factor design procedure for subsea composite pressure vessel subjected to external hydrostatic pressure is presented. The failure criterion for defining the performance function is considered as buckling. A sensitivity analysis is conducted to research influences of statistical characteristics of variables on the partial safety factors and the thickness of pressure vessel. The results shows the longitudinal modulus, inside radius of composite layers, unsupported length and external pressure significantly affect the design results, whereas transversal modulus, Poisson’s ratio, shear modulus and winding angle have little effects. In order to validate the design results, a filament-wound composite pressure vessel is manufactured, and the buckling test is performed. It is observed that when the applied external hydrostatic pressure is a little more than the designed critical buckling pressure, the buckling and subsequent burst behaviours occur, which shows a good agreement between the experimental and analytical results.

► A LRFD-based design procedure for subsea composite pressure vessel subjected to external hydrostatic pressure is presented.
► The sensitivity of the partial safety factors to the changes in the characterization of various random variables is studied.
► The longitudinal modulus, inside radius, unsupported length and external pressure significantly affect the design results.