Filament-wound vessel from an organic fiber-epoxy system.
We evaluated the PRD-49-III fiber by winding 4-in. vessels in an epoxy matrix. From over 130 vessels of various designs, the best average vessel performance factor (PV/W) based on fiber was 2,500,000 in.; based on the composite it was 1,800,000 in. The highest average fiber-failure stress was 446 ksi. It is evident that for shell structures that involve minimal shear loading this fiber/epoxy material system is indeed very attractive.