The loss of the Titan submersible remains shrouded in mystery, with many details yet to be uncovered. However, the recovery of additional wreckage holds the promise of filling in some of the gaps in our knowledge. Despite the limited information available, a general understanding of the events has emerged. The submersible’s pressure vessel, a crucial component, suffered a catastrophic failure that resulted in its immediate implosion. In analyzing the causes of this failure, the construction of the pressure vessel stands out as a “unique” factor.
Unlike traditional pressure vessels made of steel or titanium, the Titan’s vessel incorporated a significant section constructed from carbon fiber. This unconventional choice, despite warnings from numerous experts, likely contributed to the vessel’s demise. While carbon fiber offers numerous advantages, its failure mode presents a notable drawback. Unlike metals, which exhibit noticeable signs of stress and wear before failure, carbon fiber fails rapidly and catastrophically.
Furthermore, the vessel’s “cigar-like” shape may have presented additional challenges. Pressure vessels designed for extreme depths typically adopt a spherical form, as it provides greater structural resilience. The combination of materials used in the construction of the Titan’s pressure vessel could have also played a role. Blending two different materials is inherently complex, and in this case, the titanium end caps were reportedly glued to the carbon fiber hull.
Another crucial factor to consider is the porthole through which the submersible’s occupants could observe the wreckage. Astonishingly, this porthole had a depth rating that was only half of the intended depth of the submarine’s voyage.
Despite these significant red flags, the Titan managed to complete three trips to the Titanic, and OceanGate’s fleet as a whole conducted over 200 dives. The repetitive nature of these outings could have played a part in the submersible’s ultimate demise. Each dive subjected the carbon fiber structure to tremendous pressure, potentially causing undetectable damage. Over time, this damage would accumulate, eventually leading to a catastrophic failure when the pressure reached critical levels once again.
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