Pressure vessel having substantially flat panel

A method of loading a pressure vessel, comprising:

• internally pressurizing the pressure vessel at least partially enclosed by a panel having at least one panel span extending between a pair of side bulkheads each having a bulkhead top portion in non-contacting proximity to the panel;
• generating an out-of-plane pressure load on the panel in response to internally pressurizing the pressure vessel;
• transmitting the out-of-plane pressure load from the panel to the pair of side bulkheads using a first plurality of panel braces coupling individual ones of the side bulkheads to the panel at a first plurality of panel attachment nodes distributed along the at least one panel span;
• and
• limiting an outward deflection of the first plurality of panel attachment nodes to substantially equal deflection amounts when internally pressurizing the pressure vessel, the outward deflection being limited by the first plurality of panel braces having an axial stiffness that is different among at least two of the panel braces of the first plurality of panel braces.

A method of manufacturing a pressure vessel, comprising:

• positioning a pair of side bulkheads in a spaced relation to each other, the pair of side bulkheads each having a bulkhead top portion;
• positioning a substantially flat panel in non-contacting proximity to the bulkhead top portion of each of the pair of side bulkheads such that at least one panel span extends between the pair of side bulkheads, the panel and the pair of side bulkheads collectively forming at least a portion of a structural assembly enclosing the pressure vessel;
• and
• coupling, using a first plurality of panel braces, each of the side bulkheads to the panel at a corresponding first plurality of panel attachment nodes distributed along the panel span, at least two of the panel braces of the first plurality of panel braces having a different axial stiffness that results in an outward deflection of the first plurality of panel attachment nodes by substantially equal deflection amounts when the panel is subjected to an out-of-plane pressure load during internal pressurization of the pressure vessel.