Comparative efficiency assessment of various composite materials in pressure hulls of deepwater technology

This paper gives approximate calculation formulae connecting weight and efficiency of pressure hulls with their geometry and structural elements, as well as with physical & mechanical properties of their material. It discusses conventional pressure hulls with thoroidal stiffeners of adjustable bearing capacity and the thoroidal cylinder made up by thoroids with adjustable bearing capacity, made of metal, GRP, CRP and organic plastic. The numerical experiment has shown that conventional pressure hulls become less efficient and more expensive as their design pressure grows. The paper demonstrates that composite materials are a viable solution for these structures that might not only catch up with metal in terms of performance parameters but also go beyond this level.