Composite overwrapped pressure vessel

A COPV inside a sounding rocket

A composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV) is a vessel consisting of a thin, non-structural liner wrapped with a structural fiber composite, designed to hold a fluid under pressure. The liner provides a barrier between the fluid and the composite, preventing leaks (which can occur through matrix microcracks which do not cause structural failure) and chemical degradation of the structure. In general, a protective shell is applied for protective shielding against impact damage.[1][2] The most commonly used composites are fiber reinforced polymers (FRP),[3] using carbon and kevlar fibers. The primary advantage of a COPV as compared to a similar sized metallic pressure vessel is lower weight; COPVs, however, carry an increased cost of manufacturing and certification.

Casing of the Altair rocket stage, essentially a fiberglass composite overwrapped pressure vessel
  1. ^ "Protective shells for composite overwrapped pressure vessels". Archived from the original on 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  2. ^ Group, Techbriefs Media (March 2005). "Making a Metal-Lined Composite-Overwrapped Pressure Vessel". www.techbriefs.com. Archived from the original on 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  3. ^ Lung, Bryan C. (2005). A structural health monitoring system for composite pressure vessels (Master's thesis). University of Saskatchewan. hdl:10388/etd-04042005-133006. Retrieved 2024-01-15.