Manufacturing and control
Composite cylinders for underwater applications

Filament winding is currently the most widely used manufacturing method for high-performance cylindrical composite structures. Other solutions have been devised, but generally do not lead to optimal manufacturing. Schematically, filament winding is based on the use of long fibers whose tension is controlled and which are coated with a matrix, usually thermosetting, then deposited on a rotating mandrel by means of a distribution eye [15]. The matrix can be coated in situ (wet process) or beforehand using prepreg (dry process). The combination of rotational movement of the mandrel and translation, or even rotation, of the dispensing eye creates a multilayer structure whose fiber orientation can be precisely controlled. Each overlap is therefore generally of the (± q ) type. The most common angle q is 55° to the tube axis (this angle leads to a circumferential breaking limit twice the axial...