Optimized sealing process

Abstract

To provide an optimized fluid-tight sealing process for use, e.g., in an interface between adjacent components.SOLUTION: The component assembly includes applying, to a first component 12, a first sealant bead 20 having, in a cross-sectional view, a first width 20-1 and a first height 20-2, where the first width is greater than the first height. The method also includes applying, onto the first sealant bead, a second sealant bead 22 having, in the cross-sectional view, a second width 22-1 and a second height 22-2, thereby forming a sealant stack 24. The second width is equal to or smaller than the second height, and the second width is smaller than the first width. A second component 14 is arranged over the sealant stack, and the second component is fastened to the first component with the sealant stack squeezed between the first and second components to generate a fluid-tight seal via a rheological flow of the first and second sealant beads.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an optimized fluid tight sealing process for use at boundaries between adjacent components and the like.

Background Art

[0002] Sealing processes generally involve applying a sealing agent (sealant) to block the passage of fluids, dust, sound, and heat through openings in materials. Generally, in the sealing of an assembly, a mechanical covering is formed at the boundary between adjacent components or substrates. Sealants include those with low strength, high strength, flexibility, rigidity, temporary, and permanent ones. Most sealants are not strictly adhesives, although some have adhesive or structural aspects.

[0003] Sealants may be electrically insulating or conductive and may also provide heat insulation or sound insulation. Sealants may also be used simply to smooth surface irregularities or fill gaps between two or more components. Sealants are often required to perform multiple of these functions simultaneously. Sealants are generally not very strong, but can be particularly effective in waterproof assemblies by retaining moisture inside or outside the components and assemblies used.

[0004] When a sealant fills the gap between components, a barrier is formed by the physical properties of the sealant and its adhesion to the adjacent components. Once applied, the sealant is intended to maintain its adhesiveness and sealing properties for the required period under the assumed use and environmental conditions. The formulation and application process of the sealant are carefully developed to achieve the required performance characteristics.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] A method of sealing a component assembly includes providing a first component having a first outer surface. The method also includes applying a first sealant bead having a first width and a first height in cross-sectional view to the first component. The first width is greater than the first height. The method further includes applying a second sealant bead having a second width and a second height in cross-sectional view over the first sealant bead to form a sealant laminate. The second width is equal to or less than the second height, and the second width is less than the first width. The method also includes placing a second component having a second outer surface over the formed sealant laminate such that the sealant laminate is positioned between the first outer surface and the second outer surface. Further, the method includes fastening the second component to the first component with the sealant laminate crushed therebetween. The resulting component assembly is fluid-tightly sealed by the rheological flow of the first and second sealant beads when the second component is fastened to the first component.

[0006] The first height may be equal to or less than the second height.

[0007] The first sealant bead and the second sealant bead may be formed of a common polymer material.

[0008] The second width may be directly proportional to the viscosity of the polymer material.

[0009] Specifically, the polymer material may be, for example, a polysulfide.

[0010] At least one of the first and second outer surfaces is characterized by a non-uniform contour, which may form an irregular gap between the first component and the second component. The sealant laminate is disposed, for example, in the irregular gap, and the second sealant bead may facilitate filling of the irregular gap to seal the component assembly.

[0011] Fastening the second component to the first component may include, in a cross-sectional view, installing and tightening a first fastener on one side of the first seal bead and a second fastener on the other side of the first seal bead.

[0012] The fluid-tight seal of the component assembly may be characterized in that there are no redundant fillet seals and fairing seals between the first component and the second component.

[0013] The component assembly is, for example, part of an aircraft wing that defines a fuel tank.

[0014] The first component may be either the outer skin of the aircraft wing or the spar of the aircraft wing, in which case the second component is the other aircraft wing component.

[0015] Also disclosed is a close-seal component assembly that seals irregular gaps between the first component and the second component using the seal laminate crushed between them.

[0016] The above features and advantages, as well as other features and advantages of the present disclosure, will become apparent by considering the following detailed description of the embodiments and best modes for carrying out the described disclosure in connection with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The embodiments of the present disclosure described herein are intended to be illustrative. Other embodiments may take various alternative forms. Also, the drawings are schematic and not necessarily to scale. Some parts may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of specific components. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein should not be construed as limiting, but rather as a representative basis for teaching those skilled in the art how to utilize the present disclosure in various ways.

[0019] In the following description, certain terms may be used for reference only and are not intended to be limiting. For example, terms such as "upper" and "lower" refer to directions in the referenced drawings. Also, terms such as "front", "back", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "rear part", "side", "upper", "lower", "upper part", "lower / bottom part", etc. represent the orientation and / or position of a part or element of a component within any consistent reference frame, which is made clear by referring to the text and related drawings describing the component in question.

[0020] Furthermore, terms such as "first," "second," "third," etc. may be used to represent individual components. Such terms include, for example, the specific terms described above, their derivatives, and terms having similar meanings, which are used in the description of the figures and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims. Further, in this specification, the present disclosure may be described from the perspective of functional and / or logical block elements and various processing steps. Note that such block elements may include a number of hardware, software, and / or firmware components configured to perform the specified functions.

[0021] Refer to the drawings. Note that like reference numerals refer to like components. FIG. 1 shows an assembly 10 having adjacent components, namely a first component 12 and a second component 14. Assembly 10 includes a fay-sealed joint or boundary 10A (shown in FIG. 2) between component 12 and component 14. This fay-sealed boundary 10A can be configured as a fluid-tight seal, as will be detailed below. Generally, the first component 12 and the second component 14 are fastened and fixed to each other by suitable fasteners such as bolts or rivets, or by clamping with suitable means, to form a robust assembly. Without being limited to the specific example shown in FIG. 1, the component assembly 10 can be part of an aircraft wing 16 that defines an internal fuel tank 18. As further shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the first component 12 can be the outer skin of the aircraft wing and the second component 14 can be the spar of the aircraft wing (shown in a flanged configuration), or vice versa.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first component 12 is, for example, a bottom component and includes a first outer surface or upper outer surface 12A. The component assembly 10 also includes a first sealant bead 20 applied to the first component 12, specifically to the first outer surface 12A. As can be seen from the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 3, the first sealant bead 20 is defined by a first width 20-1 and a first height 20-2. The size of the first width 20-1 is greater than the size of the first height 20-2. The first component 12 also includes a second sealant bead 22 applied on top of the first sealant bead 20. As can be seen from the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 3, the second sealant bead 22 is defined by a second width 22-1 and a second height 22-2. As shown in FIG. 3, the second sealant bead 22 applied on top of the first sealant bead 20 forms a sealant laminate 24. The first component 12 with the sealant laminate 24 disposed thereon constitutes a component sub-assembly 10’ (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) before fastening the second component 14 thereto to produce the final component assembly 10.

[0023] Referring to the sealant laminate 24 shown in FIG. 3, the size of the second width 22-1 is equal to or smaller than (i.e., “less than or equal to”) the size of the second height 22-2. Further, the second width 22-1 is smaller than the first width 20-1. Additionally, the size of the first height 20-2 may be equal to or smaller than the size of the second height 22-2. The first sealant bead 20 and the second sealant bead 22 can be formed of a common polymer material such as polysulfide so as to withstand long-term immersion in liquids such as aircraft fuel. The size of the second width 22-1 may be directly proportional to the viscosity of the selected bead material. Further, the ratio of the dimensions in the first and second sealant beads 20, 22, i.e., the ratio of their respective widths to their heights, can likewise be selected according to the viscosity of the sealant. For example, for a lower viscosity sealant, a wider second width 22-1 may be selected. The laminated sealant beads 20, 22 form a continuous band of sealant around the close-seal boundary 10A between the component 12 and the component 14.

[0024] As shown in the figure, the second component 14 is arranged, for example, as an upper component and includes a second outer surface or a lower outer surface 14A. In the component assembly 10, the sealant laminate 24 is located between the first outer surface 12A and the second outer surface 14A. When the second component 14 is fastened to the first component 12 in a state where the sealant laminate 24 is crushed between them, a fluid-tight seal 26 (shown in FIG. 2) is formed within the component assembly 10. When the first component 12 and the second component 14 are fastened, most of the sealant material remains between them. However, when the joint is sealed, a part of the sealant material, mainly a part of the first sealant bead 20, can be extruded from the boundary 10A.

[0025] Generally, the sealant material is a shear-thickening rheological fluid, that is, the sealant increases in viscosity according to the rate of shear strain. In other words, when the sealant material is loaded within the boundary of the component assembly, its viscosity decreases and its compressibility also decreases. When the sealant is confined between adjacent components, a hydrolock condition may occur, which may cause the component structure to distort or sink. To avoid the hydrolock phenomenon and distortion of the component structure at the joint, the second width 22-1 of the second sealant bead 22 is smaller than the first width 20-1 of the first sealant bead 20, while the second height 22-2 is larger than the first height 20-2. Also, the first width 20-1 of the first sealant bead 20 is larger than the height 20-2 of the first sealant bead. According to the above relative dimensions of the sealant beads 20 and 22, a part of the sealant material can be reliably extruded, corresponding to the variation of the gap (details will be described later), and the hydrolock phenomenon and distortion of the component structure at the joint can be avoided. Further, the overall height of the sealant laminate 24 may be made larger than the maximum height of the gap at the boundary 10A so as to reliably fill the gap.

[0026] The component assembly 10 is thus sealed by the rheological flow of the first seal bead 20 and the second seal bead 22. Specifically, in the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 3, the second component 14 can be fastened to the first component 12 by the first fastener 28 on one side (shown as the left side) of the seal laminate 24 and the second fastener 30 on the other side (shown as the right side) of the seal laminate. Further, in a side or top view along the major axis X of the component assembly 10 (shown in FIG. 2), for example, among the fasteners arranged along the laminated seal beads 20, 22 to form the assembly of the fluid-tight seal 26, the first fastener 28 may be one of the fasteners in the first row 28', and the second fastener 30 may be one of the fasteners in the second row 30'.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, at least one of the first outer surface 12A and the second outer surface 14A is characterized by an uneven contour 32 in cross-section or along the major axis X. Such an uneven contour 32 of either the first outer surface 12A or the second outer surface 14A can cause irregular or non-uniform gaps 34 between the first component 12 and the second component 14, that is, variations in the gaps at the boundary 10A. Despite such irregular gaps 34, due to the above-described configuration of the seal laminate 24 disposed within the seal, particularly by the rheological flow of the first seal bead 20 and the second seal bead 22, the fluid-tight seal 26 can be maintained. Further, even when there are no redundant fillet and fairing seals that are common in the art between the first component 12 and the second component 14, the fluid-tight seal 26 of the component assembly 10 can be maintained. Therefore, the component assembly 10 can be configured as a close-contact seal assembly without fairing and fillet machining.

[0028] By utilizing the size of the irregular gap 34, the heights 20-2 and 22-2 of the first and second sealant beads can be determined. The nominal gap thickness can generally be accommodated by the first sealant bead 20, while the gap variation and surface non-uniformity can be accommodated by the second sealant bead 22. For example, the height 20-2 of the first sealant bead can be made equal to the average gap thickness. The height 22-2 of the second sealant bead can be made equal to the maximum gap that may exist at any location within the joint. The ratio of the width to the height in the first and second sealant beads 20, 22 may be correlated to the rheological change in viscosity under the load of the sealant material. For example, for a sealant material with a viscosity decrease under a specific load, it is possible to use a second sealant bead 22 with a relatively high height with respect to the width 22-1 and a first sealant bead 20 with a relatively high height with respect to the width 20-1. Also, in such an embodiment, the width 22-1 of the second sealant bead 22 can be made closer to a 1:1 ratio with respect to the size of its height 22-2.

[0029] The sealant laminate 24 can help promote the rheological flow of the first sealant bead 20 into the wider space within the irregular gap 34 and the controlled extrusion of the first sealant bead from the narrower space. On the other hand, the second sealant bead 22 helps fill the overall space along the major axis X between the first part 12 and the second part 14. For example, when the sealant laminate 24 is disposed in the irregular gap 34, the first sealant bead 20 will fill most of the boundary 10A. Next, the second sealant bead 22 will flow into the irregularities of the adjacent gaps and promote the filling of the irregular gap 34 formed by the non-uniform contour 32. Thereby, the first and second sealant beads 20, 22 cooperate to seal the component assembly 10 when the sealant laminate 24 is crushed during fastening without causing the hydro-lock phenomenon of the sealant and / or distortion of the connected components. Therefore, the crushing of the sealant laminate 24 is intended to completely seal the boundary 10A and achieve a highly reliable and leak-free performance of the component assembly 10.

[0030] A method 100 for sealing a component assembly 10, for example, a method for sealing an assembly that is part of an aircraft wing 16 having an outer panel of the aircraft wing and a spar of the aircraft wing and defining an internal fuel tank 18, is shown in FIG. 5 and will be described below with reference to the structures shown in FIGS. 1-4. The method 100 begins with providing a first component 12 in a frame 102. After the frame 102, the method proceeds to a frame 104. In the frame 104, the method includes applying a first sealant bead 20 to the first component 12. As described above, the first sealant bead 20 has a first width 20-1 and a first height 20-2 in cross-section, and the size of the first width is greater than the size of the first height.

[0031] As described above with respect to FIGS. 1-4, the first sealant bead 20 and the second sealant bead 22 can be formed of a common polymer material such as a polysulfide. Also, the size of the width of the second sealant bead (second width 22-1), and the ratio of the dimensions in the first and second sealant beads 20, 22 can be directly proportional to the viscosity of the sealant material. The method moves from the frame 104 to a frame 106. In the frame 106, the method includes applying a second sealant bead 22 having a second width 22-1 and a second height 22-2 in cross-section over the first sealant bead 20, thereby forming a sealant laminate 24. As described with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4, the sealant laminate 24 disposed on the first component 12 forms a component sub-assembly 10'. As described above, the second width 22-1 is equal to or less than the second height 22-2 and less than the first width 20-1.

[0032] After frame 106, the method proceeds to frame 108. In frame 108, the method includes placing a second component on the formed seal laminate 24 such that the seal laminate is positioned between the first outer surface 12A and the second outer surface 14A. After frame 108, the method proceeds to frame 110. In frame 110, the method includes fastening the second component 14 to the first component 12 with the seal laminate 24 crushed therebetween. The seal laminate 24 is thus crushed to effect a fluid tight seal of the component assembly 10 by the rheological flow of the first and second seal beads 20, 22. In embodiments where the first outer surface 12A and / or the second outer surface 14A feature the aforementioned non-uniform contour 32, the resulting irregular gaps 34 are reliably filled between the first component 12 and the second component 14 by the crushed sealant. As described above with respect to FIGS. 1 - 4, fastening the second component 14 to the first component 12 may include installing and tightening fasteners of a first row 28' on one side of the first seal bead 20 and fasteners of a second row 30' on the other side.

[0033] The method may proceed from frame 110 to frame 112. In frame 112, the method includes removing sealant material extruded from the intimate seal boundary 10A, for example from the individual locations of the irregular gaps 34.

[0034] After frame 112, the method may proceed to frame 114 to complete the component assembly 10. After either frame 112 or frame 114, the method may proceed to frame 116 to incorporate the component assembly 10 into a larger assembly such as an aircraft wing 16. Overall, method 100 is intended to create a fluid-tight component assembly by two proportionally different laminated sealant beads for forming the sealant laminate 24, namely, the sealant bead 22 applied over the first sealant bead 20. Such a fluid-tight boundary is specifically formed by the rheological flow of the first and second sealant beads 20, 22. The above-described fluid-tight boundary is particularly beneficial, for example, when manufacturing an aircraft wing having a joined aircraft wing spar and aircraft wing skin and configured to define a fuel tank.

[0035] The detailed description and drawings support and describe the present disclosure, but the scope of the present disclosure is defined only by the claims. While the best mode for carrying out the disclosure recited in the claims and some other embodiments are described in detail, there are various alternative designs and embodiments for carrying out the disclosure defined in the appended claims. Further, the features of the illustrated embodiments or the various embodiments described herein should not necessarily be understood as independent embodiments from one another. Rather, each feature described in one example of an embodiment can be combined with one or more other desired features of one or more other embodiments, and as a result, other embodiments not described by reference to the text or drawings may be obtained. Accordingly, such other embodiments are within the scope of the framework of the appended claims.

[0036] The present disclosure includes the following appendices.

[0037] Appendix 1: A method (100) for sealing a component assembly (10), comprising: providing a first component (12) having a first outer surface (12A); Apply a first seal bead (20) having a first width (20-1) and a first height (20-2) in cross-section to the first component, with the first width being greater than the first height at that time. Apply a second seal bead (22) having a second width (22-1) and a second height (22-2) in cross-section on top of the first seal bead to form a seal laminate (24), whereupon the second width is equal to or less than the second height, the second width is less than the first width, Place a second component (14) having a second outer surface (14A) on top of the formed seal laminate, positioning the seal laminate between the first outer surface and the second outer surface. Fasten the second component to the first component with the seal laminate crushed in between, thereby forming a fluid-tight seal of the component assembly by the rheological flow of the first and second seal beads.

[0038] Appendix 2: The method according to Appendix 1, wherein the first height is equal to or less than the second height.

[0039] Appendix 3: The method according to Appendix 1, wherein the first seal bead and the second seal bead are formed of a common polymer material.

[0040] Appendix 4: The method according to Appendix 3, wherein the second width is directly proportional to the viscosity of the polymer material.

[0041] Appendix 5: The method according to Appendix 3, wherein the polymer material is a polysulfide.

[0042] Appendix 6: At least one of the first and second outer surfaces is characterized by an uneven contour (32), thereby forming an irregular gap (34) between the first component and the second component. The seal laminate is disposed in the irregular gap. The method according to appendix 1, wherein the second seal bead promotes filling of the irregular gap to seal the component assembly.

[0043] Appendix 7: The method according to appendix 1, wherein fastening the second component to the first component includes installing and tightening a first fastener (28) on one side of the first seal bead and a second fastener (30) on the other side of the first seal bead in a cross-sectional view.

[0044] Appendix 8: The method according to appendix 1, wherein the fluid-tight seal of the component assembly is characterized in that there is no redundant fillet seal and fairing seal between the first component and the second component.

[0045] Appendix 9: The method according to appendix 1, which is used when a part of the aircraft wing (16) defines a fuel tank (18).

[0046] Appendix 10: The method according to appendix 9, wherein the first component is one of the outer panel of the aircraft wing and the spar of the aircraft wing, and the second component is the other of the outer panel of the aircraft wing and the spar of the aircraft wing.

[0047] Appendix 11: An adhered seal component assembly (10), a first component (12) having a first outer surface (12A), a first seal bead (20) applied to the first component, a second seal bead (22) applied on the first seal bead, the second seal bead applied on the first seal bead forming a seal laminate (24), the adhered seal component assembly further includes a second component (14) disposed on the seal laminate, the second component including a second outer surface (14A), and the seal laminate is located between the first outer surface and the second outer surface, at least one of the first and second outer surfaces is characterized by a non-uniform contour (32), The second component is fastened to the first component in a state where the sealant laminate is crushed therebetween, and the component assembly is fluid-tightly sealed by the rheological flow of the first and second sealant beads, the close contact seal component assembly.

[0048] Appendix 12: The close contact seal component assembly according to Appendix 11, wherein the first sealant bead and the second sealant bead are formed of a common polymer material.

[0049] Appendix 13: The close contact seal component assembly according to Appendix 12, wherein the width (22-1) of the second sealant bead is directly proportional to the viscosity of the polymer material.

[0050] Appendix 14: The close contact seal component assembly according to Appendix 12, wherein the polymer material is a polysulfide.

[0051] Appendix 15: At least one of the non-uniform contours of the first and second outer surfaces forms an irregular gap (34) between the first component and the second component, the sealant laminate is disposed in the irregular gap, the close contact seal component assembly according to Appendix 11, wherein the second sealant bead promotes filling of the irregular gap to seal the component assembly.

[0052] Appendix 16: In a cross-sectional view of the sealant laminate, the second component is fastened to the first component by a first fastener (28) on one side of the first sealant bead and a second fastener (30) on the other side of the first sealant bead, the close contact seal component assembly according to Appendix 11.

[0053] Appendix 17: The close contact seal component assembly according to Appendix 11, wherein the fluid-tightly sealed component assembly is characterized in that there is no redundant fillet seal and fairing seal between the first component and the second component.

[0054] Supplementary Note 18: The component assembly is part of the aircraft wing (16) that defines the fuel tank (18), the first component is one of the outer skin of the aircraft wing and the spar of the aircraft wing, and the second component is the other of the outer skin of the aircraft wing and the spar of the aircraft wing. The close contact seal component assembly according to Supplementary Note 11.

[0055] Supplementary Note 19: A method (100) for sealing an assembly of an aircraft wing (16) that defines a fuel tank (18), comprising: Providing an outer skin (12) of the aircraft wing having a first outer surface (12A); Applying a first sealant bead (20) having a first width (20-1) and a first height (20-2) in cross-section to the outer skin of the aircraft wing, wherein the first width is made larger than the first height; Applying a second sealant bead (22) having a second width (22-1) and a second height (22-2) in cross-section on top of the first sealant bead, thereby forming a sealant laminate (24), wherein: The second width is made equal to or smaller than the second height; The second width is made smaller than the first width; Placing a spar (14) of the aircraft wing having a second outer surface (14A) on top of the formed sealant laminate, positioning the sealant laminate between the first outer surface and the second outer surface; Fastening the spar of the aircraft wing to the outer skin of the aircraft wing with the sealant laminate crushed in between, thereby achieving a fluid-tight seal of the assembly of the aircraft wing by the rheological flow of the first and second sealant beads. Fastening the spar of the aircraft wing to the outer skin of the aircraft wing includes installing and tightening a first fastener (28) on one side of the first sealant bead and a second fastener (30) on the other side of the first sealant bead in cross-section.

[0056] Supplementary Note 20: A component assembly (10'), comprising: A first component (12) having a first outer surface (12A); including the first sealant bead (20) applied to the first component, and in a cross-sectional view, the first sealant bead is defined by a first width (20-1) and a first height (20-2), the first width being greater than the first height, the component assembly further includes a second sealant bead (22) that forms a sealant laminate (24) by being applied over the first sealant bead, in the cross-sectional view, the second sealant bead is defined by a second width (22-1) and a second height (22-2), the second width being equal to or less than the second height, the second width being less than the first width, the component assembly further includes a second component (14) that is disposed relative to the sealant laminate, has a second outer surface (14A), and is configured to be fastened to the first component in a state where the sealant laminate is crushed between the first outer surface and the second outer surface, and a fluid-tight seal is formed between the first component and the second component by the rheological flow of the first and second sealant beads. Component assembly.

[0057] Appendix 21: The component assembly according to Appendix 20, wherein the first height is equal to or less than the second height.

[0058] Appendix 22: The component assembly according to Appendix 20, wherein the first sealant bead and the second sealant bead are formed of a common polymer material.

[0059] Appendix 23: The component assembly according to Appendix 22, wherein the second width is directly proportional to the viscosity of the polymer material.

[0060] Appendix 24: The component assembly according to Appendix 22, wherein the polymer material is a polysulfide.

Claims

1. A method of sealing a component assembly, comprising: providing a first component having a first outer surface; applying a first sealant bead having a first width and a first height in cross-section to the first component, wherein the first width is greater than the first height; applying a second sealant bead having a second width and a second height in cross-section over the first sealant bead to form a sealant laminate, wherein the second width is equal to or less than the second height; the second width is less than the first width; placing a second component having a second outer surface over the formed sealant laminate such that the sealant laminate is positioned between the first outer surface and the second outer surface; crushing the sealant laminate therebetween and fastening the second component to the first component, thereby forming a fluid-tight seal of the component assembly by rheological flow of the first and second sealant beads.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first height is equal to or less than the second height.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first sealant bead and the second sealant bead are formed of a common polymer material.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second width is directly proportional to the viscosity of the polymer material.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the polymer material is a polysulfide.

6. At least one of the first and second outer surfaces is characterized by a non-uniform contour, thereby forming an irregular gap between the first component and the second component, the sealant laminate is disposed in the irregular gap, and the second sealant bead promotes filling of the irregular gap to seal the component assembly.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein fastening the second component to the first component includes installing and tightening a first fastener on one side of the first sealant bead and a second fastener on the other side of the first sealant bead in cross-section.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid-tight seal of the component assembly is characterized by the absence of redundant fillet seals and fairing seals between the first component and the second component.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is utilized when a portion of an aircraft wing defines a fuel tank.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first component is one of an outer panel of an aircraft wing and a spar of an aircraft wing, and the second component is the other of the outer panel of the aircraft wing and the spar of the aircraft wing.

11. A component assembly, comprising a first component having a first outer surface, and a first sealant bead applied to the first component, wherein, in a cross-sectional view, the first sealant bead is defined by a first width and a first height, and the first width is greater than the first height, the component assembly further comprising a second sealant bead applied over the first sealant bead to form a sealant laminate, wherein, in the cross-sectional view, the second sealant bead is defined by a second width and a second height, the second width is equal to or less than the second height, the second width is less than the first width, the component assembly further comprising a second component disposed relative to the sealant laminate, having a second outer surface, and configured to be fastened to the first component with the sealant laminate crushed between the first outer surface and the second outer surface, wherein a fluid-tight seal is formed between the first component and the second component by rheological flow of the first and second sealant beads.

12. The component assembly according to claim 11, wherein the first height is equal to or less than the second height.

13. The component assembly according to claim 11, wherein the second width is directly proportional to the viscosity of the polymeric material.

14. A component assembly, comprising a first component having a first outer surface, a first sealant bead applied to the first component, and a second sealant bead applied over the first sealant bead, wherein the second sealant bead applied over the first sealant bead forms a sealant laminate, the component assembly further comprising a second component disposed over the sealant laminate, the second component including a second outer surface, with the sealant laminate positioned between the first outer surface and the second outer surface, wherein at least one of the first and second outer surfaces is characterized by a non-uniform contour. The component assembly, wherein the second component is fastened to the first component in a state where the seal laminate is crushed therebetween, and the rheological flow of the first and second seal beads fluid-tightly seals the component assembly.

15. The component assembly according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the first seal bead and the second seal bead are formed of a common polymer material.

16. The component assembly according to claim 15, wherein the polymer material is a polysulfide.

17. The component assembly according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein in a cross-sectional view of the seal laminate, the second component is fastened to the first component by a first fastener on one side of the first seal bead and a second fastener on the other side of the first seal bead.

18. The component assembly according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the fluid-tightly sealed component assembly is characterized in that there are no redundant fillet seals and fairing seals between the first component and the second component.

19. The component assembly is part of an aircraft wing that defines a fuel tank, the first component is one of an outer panel of the aircraft wing and a spar of the aircraft wing, and the second component is the other of the outer panel of the aircraft wing and the spar of the aircraft wing. The component assembly according to any one of claims 11 to 14.

20. At least one of the non-uniform contours of the first and second outer surfaces forms an irregular gap between the first component and the second component, the seal laminate is disposed in the irregular gap, and the second seal bead promotes filling of the irregular gap to seal the component assembly. The component assembly according to claim 14.

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