Session: 03-06-01 Composite Material Design and Modelling

Submission Number: 181910

A Creep Analysis Framework for Fiber–Reinforced Polymers in Deep-Sea Pressure Hulls 

Manned deep-sea submersibles rely on pressure hulls to resist extreme hydrostatic loads and ensure operational safety. To reduce structural weight while maintaining strength, carbon fiber–reinforced polymers (CFRP) are increasingly adopted in pressure-hull design, improving payload capacity, diving depth, and endurance. However, prolonged exposure to deep-sea environments leads to sustained compressive loading, inducing creep deformation in CFRP and threatening the long-term reliability of pressure-resistant structures.

This paper develops a computational framework for predicting the creep behavior of CFRP based on a reduced-order homogenization method. In contrast to conventional finite element approaches, the proposed framework captures microscale damage mechanisms while significantly enhancing computational efficiency without compromising accuracy. A macro–micro multiscale finite element model is first constructed using reduced-order homogenization and coupled with a creep constitutive equation to simulate time-dependent deformation. The predictive capability of the model is validated through comparison with compressive creep experiments on CFRP specimens. Finally, the framework is employed to analyze the key factors influencing multiaxial creep behavior under compressive loading, providing quantitative insight and data support for the application of CFRP in deep-sea pressure hulls.

The proposed approach offers a computationally efficient tool for evaluating long-term performance and guiding the structural design of composite pressure hulls in deep-sea environments.

Presenting Author: Yuan Zeng School of Civil Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology

Presenting Author Biography: Doctoral candidate in mechanics at Harbin Institute of Technology, with research focus on creep behavior of composite pressure hulls for deep-sea submersibles

Authors:

Yuan Zeng School of Civil Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology
Changli Yu School of Civil Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology; School of Ocean Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Weihai)
Shuo Yang School of Ocean Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Weihai)