Influence of Voids on Structural Properties of a Composite Pressure Vessel

Voids in fibre-reinforced composites, often viewed as defects, significantly influence the structural integrity of manufacturing processes. This study examines the impact of voids on filament-wound composite pressure vessels, where voids can arise from processing parameter fluctuations or volatile evaporation during curing. While no universal standard defines acceptable void content, a threshold below 3% is often cited for many automotive applications; pushing below this level typically requires advanced, cost-intensive processing. Computed tomography (CT) of vessel samples revealed a non-uniform, layer-dependent void distribution. These measurements informed a finite element model in Abaqus, where void populations were represented statistically and sampled as random fields constrained by the observed spatial distribution. The results clarify how both the amount and distribution of voids affect global burst capacity, offering an insight to structural performance.