For the storage of hydrogen and oxygen in the liquid state, vessels have to withstand temperatures in the cryogenic regime down to 20 K. In this temperature range, the use of carbon fibre reinforced materials is advantageous due to the thermal embrittlement of most metals at low temperatures. On the other hand, the available composite failure criteria are currently not well validated at cryogenic temperatures close to the absolute zero, since thermally induced residual stresses between fibers and matrix play a key role in damage and failure of composites in this temperature range.

The present contribution is directed to an assessment of Puck’s composite failure criterion in the temperature range from ambient temperature down to the cryogenic range. The assessment is performed in an experimental study on coupon level considering different material options. Specimens were tested at ambient temperature and in a liquid Helium environment under tensile, compressive and shear loads applied in different directions. The experimental study on coupon level is complemented by an experimental program on breadboard-type specimens featuring holes, tapered sections and combinations thereof.

Puck’s criterion in general is found to adequately describe first ply failure, provided that a more general definition of the slope of the failure envelope around pure shear stress states is employed. The criterion is found to predict both, the position and the load level accurately. Regarding the complete failure of the laminates, conservative results are obtained.