LAUSR

Abstract For the application of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs) to cryogenic propellant tank structures of space vehicles, the fuel leakage caused by the connection of the matrix cracks in CFRP laminates under cryogenic environment is still a critical problem to be solved. This study develops and demonstrates the leak barrier layers composed of thin-ply prepregs to prevent fuel leakage. Finite element analyses (FEA) and experiments are carried out under biaxial loadings, and the influences of the thin-ply barrier layers on the damage and gas barrier properties are investigated. It is numerically and experimentally demonstrated that CFRP laminates with thin-ply barrier layers have higher tolerance for damage and leakage than those without them.