Multiscale data-driven constitutive modelling and failure analysis of composite liquid hydrogen tanks

ongoing

Liquid hydrogen (LH2) is a promising propellant for aviation decarbonization. Developing safe, lightweight composite LH2 tanks is crucial to ensure long-range and safe transportation in future sustainable aircraft. LH2 tanks have the potential to replace traditional metal tanks, enabling high hydrogen storage densities per unit mass. However, due to the poor impact resistance and complex damage mechanisms of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites, safety is still a concern when the tank is subjected to transverse impact. Therefore, it is imperative to design impact-resistant LH2 tanks that meet safety requirements. Determining how to replace costly dynamic tests and accurately predict the thermomechanical responses of composite LH2 tanks under complex conditions is critical for developing and deploying new LH2 tanks. Therefore, this fellowship, with a planned secondment at TU Delft, aims to achieve the following: (1) Obtain the comprehensive mechanical properties of composites for LH2 tanks under complex loading conditions (uniaxial and biaxial), strain rates (0.1 to 5000 s⁻¹), and temperatures (−253 to 25°C). (2) Establish high-fidelity RVE-based FE models of CFRPs and develop a PINN-based constitutive model using small sample data, incorporating strain rate sensitivity, temperature effects, and biaxial loading coupling into the LaRC05 criterion to enhance its predictive capabilities under service conditions. (3) Create a systematic and fundamental understanding of the CAI strengths and failure mechanisms of CFRPs under much broader multiaxial loading conditions and various temperatures using a patented test rig; (4) Develop a multiscale virtual design and test tool for LH2 tanks to assess CAI strengths under various impacts (LVI to HVI), and train DNN models to predict biaxial CAI strengths; (5) Create a dedicated platform to disseminate the proposed failure criterion and promote virtual design and testing of LH2 tanks backed up by physical tests.