Finite Element Modeling of a Light-Weight Composite Blast Containment Vessel

Authors

Mohamed Trabia, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Brendan O'Toole, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Jagadeep Thota, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Kiran K. Matta, Butler InternationalFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2008

Publication Title

Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology

Volume

130

Issue

1, 011205

First page number:

1

Last page number:

7

Abstract

This paper presents various approaches for finite element modeling of a cylindrical lightweight composite vessel for blast containment purposes. The vessel has a steel liner that is internally reinforced with throttle and gusset steel plates and wrapped with a basalt fiber/epoxy composite. The vessel design is fairly complex, including many geometric details and several components with different material models. The objective of this work is to determine an accurate and efficient procedure for modeling this type of vessels. This model can be used within an iterative optimization process. Different modeling approaches using various combinations of element types, material models, and geometric details are explored. Results of these models are compared to available experimental data. Accuracy and computational time between all these models are also compared. A suitable modeling method is recommended based on these findings.

Keywords

Containers – Design and construction; Composite materials; Explosions – Safety measures; Fibre reinforced composites; Fibrous composites; Finite element analysis; Finite element method

Disciplines

Applied Mathematics | Computer-Aided Engineering and Design | Materials Science and Engineering | Mechanical Engineering | Structural Engineering

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or use interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the article. Publisher copyright policy allows author to archive post-print (author’s final manuscript). When post-print is available or publisher policy changes, the article will be deposited

Publisher Citation

Finite Element Modeling of a Lightweight Composite Blast Containment Vessel Mohamed B. Trabia, Brendan J. O'Toole, Jagadeep Thota, and Kiran K. Matta, J. Pressure Vessel Technol. 130, 011205 (2008), DOI:10.1115/1.2826437

Repository Citation

Trabia, M., O'Toole, B., Thota, J., Matta, K. K. (2008). Finite Element Modeling of a Light-Weight Composite Blast Containment Vessel. Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology, 130(1, 011205), 1-7.