In this paper, manufacture methodology of prototyping high-pressure composite vessel, manufactured with novel tech-nique of braiding; according to this construction type is shown. High pressure composite vessels find broad application in many areas as: automotive industry, aeronautics, rescue services, etc. In comparison to standard steel vessels, composite ves-sels have many advantages. High mechanical strength and strong weight reduction make composite vessels popular in novel technologies. An interesting example is a lightweight, high pressure vessel destined to store compressed fuels like methane or hydrogen. These gases are necessary to supply the fuel cell (mainly H2) or to direct burning in the cars, special mobiles and different equipments (ex. Stationary power generator etc.). But the novel high-pressure composite vessel needs a very efficient manufacturing process and precise monitoring system.
The novel braiding technology of glass fiber reinforcement structures has high potential to fabricate near-net-shaped fiber preforms of complex shaped composite vessels and allow to accelerate manufacturing process, ensuring the reproducibility and good quality of the specimens. The optical fiber sensors were used to register deformation areas, enabling their on-line or periodical technical monitoring. During braiding process, between last reinforcement layers, two types of optical fiber sensors were installed. Point sensors in form of Fiber Bragg Gratings as well as optical interferometrical sensors with long measure-ment arms (SOFO) were used. A FBG are novel optical sensors recorded within the core of the standard optical fiber. Addi-tional optical fibre sensors in form of FBGs for reference measurement were installed on the outer surface of pressure vessel.