Mechanical response of filament wound composite rings under tension and compression

This study aims at evaluating the influence of the winding angle, stacking sequence and diameter-to-thickness ratio on the mechanical response of composite rings subjected to radial compression, axial compression and hoop tensile loadings. The rings were obtained from filament wound tubes. The rings were found highly dependent on the winding angle, i.e. the specimens with fibers at ±90° presented the best radial compressive characteristics, whereas those wound at ±60° performed best under axial compression, and apparent hoop tensile strength determined via split disk testing was higher for rings wound at ±90°. All rings were dependent on the diameter-to-thickness ratio. Failure was studied through micrographs of post-mortem specimens. The dominant failure modes for radial compression, axial compression and hoop tensile loadings were, respectively, delamination, delamination and minor off-axis cracks, and fiber/matrix debonding and fiber breakage.