Composite steel structural plastic sandwich plate systems

A containment vessel, said containment vessel comprising:

• an inner wall;
• an outer wall;
• a plurality of structural members disposed between and connecting said inner wall and outer wall;
• wherein said inner wall comprises a structural laminate, said laminate comprising:
• an outer metal layer;
• an inner metal layer;
• a spacer element between said inner and outer metal layer, said spacer element arranged to maintain a predetermined distance between said outer and inner metal layers;
• an intermediate layer disposed between and bonded to both said inner and outer metal layers, said intermediate layer comprising a plastic material;
• and
• wherein each structural member has a stress relief clearance opposite said spacer element, said clearance provided to prevent crack propagation directly from said structural members to said inner metal layer of said laminate by way of said spacer.

A containment vessel, said containment vessel comprising:

• a structural laminate, said laminate comprising:
• an outer metal layer having an inner and outer surface;
• an inner metal layer having an inner and outer surface, said inner surface of said outer metal layer facing said outer surface of said inner metal layer;
• a spacer element between said inner surface of said outer metal layer and said outer surface of said inner metal layer, said spacer element arranged to maintain a predetermined distance between said outer and inner metal layers, said spacer contacting said inner surface of said outer metal layer;
• an intermediate layer disposed between and bonded to both said inner and outer metal layers, said intermediate layer comprising a plastic material;
• and
• a plurality of support members attached to and extending outwardly from said outer metal layer of said laminate, each of said support members having a stress relief clearance adjacent a portion of said outer metal layer, said portion being opposite a point where said outer metal layer inner surface contacts said spacer, said clearance provided to prevent crack propagation from one of said plurality of support members to said inner metal layer by way of said spacer.

A containment vessel, said containment vessel comprising:

• a structural laminate, said laminate comprising:
• an outer metal layer having an inner and outer surface;
• an inner metal layer having an inner and outer surface, said inner surface of said outer metal layer facing said outer surface of said inner metal layer;
• a spacer element between said inner surface of said outer metal layer and said outer surface of said inner metal layer, said spacer element connecting said outer metal layer and said inner mental layer, said spacer element arranged to maintain a predetermined distance between said outer metal layer and said inner metal layer;
• an intermediate layer disposed between and bonded to both said inner and outer metal layers, said intermediate layer comprising a plastic material;
• and
• a plurality of structural members attached to and extending from said laminate, each of said structural members having a stress relief clearance adjacent a portion of said laminate, said portion being adjacent a point where said outer metal layer and said inner metal layer are connected by said spacer, said clearance provided to prevent a crack formed in one of said structural members from propogating through said laminate by way of said spacer.