Method of fabricating a tank having integral restraining elements

A method of fabricating a tank comprising:

• forming a plurality of cells, each cell comprising a plurality of layers of material that extend about and define each cell;
• positioning the plurality of cells with respect to one another;
• positioning inner and outer face sheets on opposite sides of the plurality of cells, wherein the inner and outer face sheets that are positioned on opposite sides of the plurality of cells are formed of different types of materials;
• and
• curing the inner and outer face sheets and the plurality of layers of material that form each of the plurality of cells to thereby form a wall assembly having (i) inner and outer walls that are each formed by a respective face sheet and a portion of the plurality of cells and (ii) a plurality of restraining elements extending between the inner and outer walls with each restraining element formed by a portion of a cell;
• wherein the wall assembly defines an inlet through the outer wall comprised of the outer face sheet and the plurality of layers of material that comprise a respective cell opening into a volume defined between the inner and outer walls in order to permit a pressurized gas to be introduced within the wall assembly, and
• wherein the wall assembly further defines an inlet through the inner wall comprised of the inner face sheet and the plurality of layers of material that comprise a respective cell.