LoW8 Pressure Vessel: Drop Test Analysis

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Project Description

ALE has developed the patented LoW8 pressure vessel technology which is light weight and extremely durable. LoW8 pressure vessels lend their strength to Aramide fibers that are dry-wound around a gas-tight polymer liner using the filament winding process. Dry-wound means that no resin is used to bind the fibers. This eliminates the resin cracking problems of regular epoxy composites when subject to impact.

The dimensions of the pressure vessel and the design of attachments such as the handle and the foot ring can be changed according to specifications of the customer. Every new tank design that enters the consumer market must be certified in order to ensure safety. The impact behavior must be good enough for a completely filled pressure vessel to survive a drop from significant height (3 meters). We use Finite Element models to analyse the handle and the foot ring during impact in order to improve the geometry and select the Shore hardness of the plastics. This virtual testing approach helps us to reduce the time required for actual experiments.