Optimum Design of a Reinforced Cylindrical Pressure Vessel

Abstract

The distribution of fibers in a cylindrically reinforced pressure vessel of given size and constituent properties is optimized using the criterion of minimum strain energy. A stress function approach, in conjunction with the modified Rayleigh-Ritz technique, is employed to obtain an approximate solution to the non-linear optimization problem. Constraint conditions in clude specification of the global volume fraction of fibers and satisfaction of stress boundary conditions. Numerical results are presented for reinforced cylinders having various radii, modulus ratios, and global volume fractions. Included is the case of a reinforced concrete cylinder, in which the concrete is assumed to be ineffective in tension. In most cases examined, use of the op timum fiber distribution, rather than a uniform distribution, results in a substantial reduction in the maximum radial displacement and an increase in the failure pressure load.