Scientific Technical Review

This paper presents the development, structural and mechanical characterization of composite thin-walled tubes (CF/GF/UPe) based on a polyester resin matrix, reinforced with carbon (CF) and glass fibers (GF). The tubes were fabricated using wet filament winding technology, which offers precise control over fiber orientation. The manufacturing process involved two distinct winding patterns: radial and helicoidal, to assess their effects on the mechanical performance of the tubes. Detailed experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of the winding angle (radial vs. helical) on the internal hydrostatic pressure. It was observed that the helicoidal winding pattern, particularly at a winding angle of 70°, significantly enhanced the response of the CF/GF/UPe tubes on internal hydrostatic pressure. The findings provide valuable insights into the design and fabrication of composite tubes for applications requiring high strength-to-weight ratios, such as in automotive, aerospace, and structural engineering fields. The research offers a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between filament winding parameters especially winding angle, and the mechanical performance (Barcol hardness and response of the material to internal hydrostatic pressure) of novel composite thin-walled tubes, providing a basis for future optimization in the production of fiber-reinforced composite tubes.

Key words: polyester resin; helicoidal, radial; fiber-based composites.

DOWNLOAD PDF