Bulkhead

A bulkhead is a vertical partition wall within a ship, submarine, aircraft, or building that divides the interior into separate compartments. Bulkheads are typically load-bearing elements in the hull or fuselage and may be designed to be watertight or airtight.

In marine design, bulkheads create watertight compartments to limit flood damage and help maintain buoyancy and stability after hull damage. Their location and strength are specified by design standards, and they can extend from the backbone to the shell or deck to resist pressure and shear.

In aircraft and aerospace, bulkheads serve as structural frames that partition the cabin and cargo areas, provide mounting surfaces for equipment, and contribute to the pressure vessel integrity in pressurized aircraft. They also help distribute loads and resist differential pressure.

In buildings and basements, the term bulkhead refers to an exterior or interior wall that encloses a stairwell or basement opening, often with a bulkhead door. Bulkheads can also denote a formed wall used to separate spaces within a larger room, or to support overhead loads in light construction.

In plumbing and fluid systems, a bulkhead fitting is a through-wall, sealed connection that carries pipes, cables, or hoses across a tank wall, such as in water tanks, aquariums, or pressure vessels. These fittings provide a fluid-tight interface while allowing line entries.