1. Introduction

Traditionally, thin walled composite over-wrapped pressure vessels have been quite sensitive to impact damage, limiting the applications of the vessels. HyPerComp Engineering, Inc. (HEI) and NASA have jointly developed proprietary design and process techniques that work in combination with carbon and Zylon hybrid technology (1). Applying this technology has resulted in a lightweight, robust composite over-wrapped pressure vessel.

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new technology by exploring a variety of tests that have been conducted by HEI and NASA.

Data will be presented that demonstrates the lightweight robust technology. Data has been collected and analyzed by conducting low-velocity impact tests on SCBA-size composite over wrapped cylinders using the same carbon and Zylon material but using a variety of designs and techniques. Data has also been collected on low-velocity impact tests on composite over wrapped cylinders that used different types of carbon combined with Zylon. In an effort to demonstrate the hybrid technology's effectiveness in a commercial application, data has also been gathered by testing a very light weight hybridized SCBA cylinder design to the EN 12245 (2) .30 caliber armor piercing gunfire test.

Copyright 2004 by HyPerComp Engineering, Inc. Published by Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering with permission.

<--Previous Abstract Introduction Technical Discussion Test Results Conclusion and References Next-->