Secondary retention for adhesive bonded joints

Abstract

A pressure vessel includes a first component, a second component, and a bonded lap joint between the first and second components. The bonded lap joint includes a portion of the first component which extends about a circumference of the pressure vessel, a portion of the second component which extends about the circumference of the pressure vessel and partially overlaps the portion of the first component, an adhesive bond connecting the portion of the first component to the portion of the second component and thereby joining the first and second components, and mechanically interlocking structures connecting the portion of the first component to the portion of the second component. The adhesive bond forms a primary retention mechanism. The mechanically interlocking structures are situated at least partially within each of the portion of the first component and the portion of the second component, and form a secondary retention mechanism.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.