Composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) are manufactured by filament winding, a process involving a continuous application of high-stiffness fibers over a thin metal shell (liner). For their excellent corrosion resistance and high strength-to-mass ratios, COPVs are commonly used for critical applications (such as deep-sea and space missions).

A typical COPV usually contains numerous fiber-reinforced layers and exhibits a complex overall material orthotropy. The material properties may undergo significant changes due to fiber realignment when the COPV is under intense operational load. The material properties and their load-dependent variations are difficult to obtain by experimental means; therefore, finite-element simulations are often conducted by designers and researchers to gain insight into the mechanical behaviors of COPVs.

Further processing of the simulation result is often performed to: