This topic is devoted to the analysis of the mechanical behavior of filament-wound pipes. The process of filament winding makes it possible to produce rotating parts made of composite material containing polymers reinforced with long fibers. Most of the time, this process consists in winding a fiber tow coated with a thermosetting polymeric matrix around a mandrel, and thus covering the entire mandrel after successive passages. Following a polymerization phase, the mandrel can be removed in order to get only the composite structure. In certain cases, the mandrel can be left in place and is then used as a liner.
Filament winding is used for the manufacturing of gas/fluid vessels. But one of the main uses is to perform pipes for fluid transportation in nuclear or oil industries, or for marine applications. Pipes made of composite materials offer a good resistance to adverse environmental conditions. In fact, glass fibers are generally used for these applications. The loading of the pipes structures is often a complex phenomenon and involves the study of the mechanical behavior under multiaxial loading.
