Review on optimization design, failure analysis and non-destructive testing of composite hydrogen storage vessel

Composite hydrogen storage vessels have been increasingly applied to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. This review focuses on optimization design, failure analysis and nondestructive testing for enhancing the safety of composites hydrogen storage vessels in service. The optimization designs of the composite vessel components help to improve the durability and strength of composite vessels subjected to burst pressure and fatigue loads. In complex service environments, composite vessels may suffer from various failure forms (burst failure, fatigue failure and impact failure) which involve different damage processes and influence factors. More importantly, this review discusses the applications of acoustic emission, digital image correlation, optical fiber in studying the residual performance (burst pressure and fatigue life) and damage modes of the composite vessel. It is expected that the combination of nondestructive testing techniques plays an increasingly important role in developing the composite vessel for structural health monitoring. • Composite hydrogen storage vessels of type III and type IV are compared. • Reviewed the optimized design in the cylinder, dome and liner of composite vessels. • Summarized burst failure, fatigue failure, and impact failure of composite vessels. • Damage assessment by various non-destructive testing techniques.