Study of Repairing a Corroded Cryogenic Tank by Composite Wrap Subjected to Thermal and Mechanical Loadings.

Cryogenic tanks are still considered the most efficient method of storing fluids. This is due to its resistance to much damage caused by corrosion induced by low temperature and internal pressure. In this study, the finite element method is used to analyze the repair performance by a composite wrap in a corroded tank. A parametric analysis was carried out in order to highlight the effects of low temperature and pressure on the thermo-mechanical behavior of the corroded structure and to predict the evolution of stresses in the vicinity of corrosion. An approach to this problem based on the notion of material strength was necessary since it was essential to take both the size of the pre-existing defect and the amount of mechanical stresses. The results obtained show the effect of thermal and mechanical loading to examine their impact on the strength of the structure on the one hand, and on the other hand, the influence of the composite wrap repair in the different corrosion lengths (Path 1, 2, 3) on the reinforcement of the tank. Finally, repairing damage (corrosion) using FRP composites increases the durability of cryogenic tanks, which increases their efficiency their performance and increases their life, although the rate of improvement depends largely on operating conditions, such as pressure and temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]