Structural effects on the radial mechanical performance of 3D tubular braided composite

This study investigates the mechanical response of three-dimensional tubular braided composites (3DTBCs) subjected to radial loading. A systematic investigation is conducted to evaluate the structural effects on the internal pressure resistance, transverse compression performance and the associated failure mechanisms of 3DTBCs, and the key structural factors include the axial yarn replacement, the circumferential yarn reinforcement and variation of braiding angle. The results indicate that the axial yarn replacement strategy significantly improves low-cycle fatigue life under internal pressure and offers a cost-effective solution for industrial applications. Circumferential yarn reinforcement induces circumferential constraint, facilitating a synergistic enhancement of both internal pressure resistance and transverse compressive strength while effectively suppressing delamination propagation. The synergistic design of axial yarn replacement and circumferential yarn reinforcement achieves synchronous optimization of axial and radial load-bearing capacity. For instance, the RC-3D6D-S exhibits 8.16% higher axial compressive strength, 184.19% greater internal pressure resistance and 72.88% increased transverse ultimate load compared to the conventional structure 3D4D-S. This study may provide theoretical foundations and structural design references for the application of hollow tubular braided composites components in complex radial loading scenarios.