Determination of burst pressures and failure locations of vehicle LPG cylinders

This study addresses the determination of the burst pressures (BP) and burst failure locations of vehicle liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel tanks using both experimental and finite element analysis (FEA). The experimental burst test investigations were carried out by hydrostatic test in which the cylinders were internally pressurized with water. Two nonlinear FEA models, plane and shell, were developed and evaluated under non-uniform and axisymmetric boundary conditions. The required drawn shell properties including weld zone and shell thickness variations were investigated. The FEA BP and the burst failure locations are compared to the experimental ones. The permanent volume expansions of the LPG tanks due to internal pressure were also examined based on the code regulations.