J O U R N A L O F M A T E R I A L S S C I E N C E L E T T E R S 1 8 (1 9 9 9 ) 1203

Optimum fiber orientation in filament wound structures

S. GROVE
Advanced Composites Manufacturing Centre, Department of Mechanical and Marine Engineering, University
of Plymouth, UK
E-mail: mme@plymouth.ac.uk

A winding angle of approximately 55 is usually quoted

as the optimum for filament wound pipes and pressure
vessels. The conventional derivation is based on netting
analysis [1], and strictly applies only to cylinders under
internal pressure, in which the ratio of hoop stress/axial
stress (h /a ) is 2. Netting analysis neglects the contribution of the matrix and only considers the stress in
the fiber direction (f ). For a winding angle (Fig. 1),
resolution of direct stresses gives

An alternative derivation of this angle is obtained by

considering the volume of a helically wound cylinder,
radius r , length L, which comprises inextensible fibers
of unit length. The geometry of such a cylinder is easily
considered by unzipping it along its length (Fig. 2).
Writing the dimensions in terms of winding angle:

h = f sin2

L = cos

a = f cos2

r=

sin
2

The volume of the cylinder is

Thus
h
= tan2
a
If h /a = 2, then = tan1

2 = 54.7 .

Figure 1 The basic geometry for netting analysis. represents the winding angle; h , a and f are stresses in hoop, axial and fiber directions,
respectively.

V = r 2 L =

sin2 cos
4

The volume tends to zero at = 0 (r 0) and = 90

(L 0). The volume is a maximum at d V /d = 0.
Differentiating and solving again gives tan2 = 2, or
= 54.7 as before.
The optimum angle is now identified as that which
maximizes the volume of the cylinder, in other words,
an increase in internal pressure has the least chance of
increasing the cylinder volume, and an equal tendency
to increase length or radius.
Powell [2] has discussed the dimensional changes
of arteries, which result from their helical windings of
collagen fibers. More recently, Vogel [3] has identified this maximum volume with helically wound structures in nature, referring to them as hydrostats. The
squid, for example, achieves propulsion by contracting
circumferential muscles in the mantle. Lengthwise expansion (which would occur in an isotropic material)
tends to cause helically wound fibers to decrease their
winding angle. This necessarily reduces the volume of
the vessel and water is expelled.

References
1. G . E C K O L D , Design and Manufacture of Composite Structures
(Woodhead, 1994).
2. P . P O W E L L , Engineering with Fibre-Polymer Laminates
(Chapman & Hall, 1994).
3. S . V O G E L , Cats Paws and Catapults (Norton, 1998).

Figure 2 Geometry of unit length wound fiber on unzipped cylinder

of length L, radius r .

C 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers

02618028

Received 4 March
and accepted 23 March 1999

1203