%0 Journal Article %T Novel tests and inspection methods for textile reinforced composite tubes %A W. Hufenbach %A L. Kroll %A M. Gude %A A. Czulak %J Journal of Achievements in Materials and Manufacturing Engineering %D 2005 %I World Academy of Materials and Manufacturing Engineering %X Purpose: This paper describes innovative lightweight applications of fiber and textile reinforced polymers in aircraft, automotive and chemical industry.Design/methodology/approach: This paper deals with modern test methods of braided composite tube specimens as basic elements of modern composites. The tubes subjected to strength tests under superposed compressive, tensile and internal pressure loadings, and tested by the acoustic emission method for damage detection.Findings: For the quality assessment and here, especially for the verification of fibre orientations after manufacture, the X-ray method is an advantageous inspection method. For the identification of fracture modes, after uni- and biaxial mechanical test under tensile, compressive and torque loads as well under inner pressure loading the computer tomography CT is used. The acoustic emission to assess for damage detection in braided composite pipes, and mechanical loading. Moreover, from the applied techniques the information concerned quality of a manufactured specimen, damage propagation and determination the types of damages can be obtained.Research limitations/implications: Those three methods assure very good and promising results having one limitation in case of volume of a tested sample, e.g in the CT device, an allowable diameter of an investigated tubular specimen amounts to 150mm.Practical implications: Use of the methods resulted in improved efficiency of test process and analysis of GFRP tubular specimens.Originality/value: The paper describes the new implicated test and inspection methods for textile reinforced composite tubes. %K Methodology of research %K Braiding %K Filament winding material characterization %K Multi-axial state of stress %K Composite tube %U http://www.journalamme.org/papers_cams05/1257.pdf