The influence of winding pattern on the mechanical response of filament Wound glass/epoxy cylinders exposed to external pressure is studied by testing cylindrical specimens having stacked layers with coincident patterns in a hyperbaric testing chamber. Different analytical models are evaluated to predict buckling pressure and modes of thin wall cylinders (diameter to thickness ratio d/h of 25) and satisfactory predictions are obtained which are in the same order of magnitude that those obtained in experimental results. Test results show no evident pattern influence on either strength (implosion pressure) or buckling behavior (buckling modes) of thin wall or thick wall (d/h of 10) cylinders. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.