Multi scale reliability analysis for high-pressure hydrogen composite vessels in aviation, Part 2: Systemic failure propagation and safety factor optimisation

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Abstract

Building on the methodology for multi-scale load prediction and component failure analysis from part 1, this paper completes the quantitative reliability framework by presenting the systemic failure propagation analysis. Vessel burst effects are modelled using Bayesian networks. Overpressure waves are calculated using trinitrotoluene (TNT) equivalent methods, while heat fluxes from hydrogen fireballs are predicted using established correlations. The multi-energy model accounts for gas cloud deflagration characteristics during delayed ignition. Results demonstrate that almost all burst events lead to aircraft crash, as overpressure and heat flux exceed structural thresholds. Crash probability is calculated as a function of laminate thickness elevation factor, showing that burst-related causes dominate at low values while thermal pressure relief device (TPRD) activation creates an irreducible lower bound at high values. Sensitivity analysis reveals significant influence of material scatter on required vessel mass, while random fibre angle deviations show no significant influence for thin-ply vessels. Integration with part 1 enables design optimisation based on crash probability rather than burst probability alone.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number155321
Number of pages14
JournalInternational Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume239
Early online date8 May 2026
Publication statusPublished - 3 Jun 2026
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0003-1370-064X/work/215162422
ORCID /0000-0001-7887-0805/work/215165466

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Aviation, Bayesian networks, Crash probability, Heat flux, Hydrogen safety, Overpressure, Risk analysis, Safety factor optimisation, Systemic failure propagation