Self-balancing pressure bulkhead

A vehicle, comprising:

• a pressurized interior and an unpressurized interior;
• and
• a pressure bulkhead separating the pressurized interior from the unpressurized interior of the vehicle, the pressure bulkhead comprising:
• a bulkhead wall having a radially inner disk and a radially outer compression ring, the radially inner disk having a surface and a first thickness and the radially outer compression ring having a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness, wherein the radially outer compression ring defines a periphery of the bulkhead wall and the second thickness of the radially outer compression ring is effective to provide a strength to oppose meridional and hoop stresses across the surface of the radially inner disk in response to a pressure differential across the bulkhead wall;
• and
• an attachment ring that is affixed to the periphery of the bulkhead wall, the attachment ring having an inner band and an outer band, wherein the outer band defines a concave surface that is configured to face towards the unpressurized interior of the vehicle.

A method for mounting a bulkhead wall in an aircraft, the method comprising:

• affixing an attachment ring to a fuselage skin of the aircraft, wherein the attachment ring includes an inner band and an outer band, the outer band defining a concave surface;
• directing the concave surface of the outer band towards an unpressurized interior of the aircraft;
• separating the unpressurized interior from a pressurized interior of the aircraft by attaching an outer periphery of the bulkhead wall to the attachment ring, wherein the bulkhead wall has a radially inner disk and a radially outer compression ring and the radially inner disk has a first thickness and the radially outer compression ring has a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness, and wherein the radially outer compression ring defines a periphery of the bulkhead wall;
• and
• in response to experiencing a pressure differential across the bulkhead wall, providing, by the radially outer compression ring, a strength to oppose meridional and hoop stresses across the surface of the radially inner disk.