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The four-day search for the Titan submersible has come to a tragic end. Reports confirmed that the submarine had been subjected to “catastrophic explosionat some point during their
The four-day search for the Titan submersible has come to a tragic end. Reports confirmed that the submarine had been subjected to “catastrophic explosionat some point during their journey to the wreck of the Titanic, which would instantly kill all five passengers.
The ROV found a debris field consisting of “five different large debris” from various parts of the submersible on the seafloor, about 500 meters from the Titanic’s bow, authorities said.
These results are consistent with earlier reports that the US Navy detected an acoustic signature “corresponding to an explosion” on the same day Titan began its descent.
Seabed sensors picked up a signal in the area where the ship was sinking when it lost contact with its mother ship. At the time, the signal was considered “not final”.
We can assume that the implosion did occur on the first day of the dive, but perhaps not at the same time that communication with the mother ship was lost. But why did this happen?
Most, if not all, submarines and submersibles operating at depth have a high-pressure hull made from a single, high-yield metal material. It is usually steel for relatively shallow depths (approximately less than 300 meters) or titanium for more depth.
The thick steel or titanium pressure vessel is typically spherical and can withstand the crushing pressure that can be expected at the 11,000-foot depth where the wreck of the Titanic lies.
However, the Titan was different. His pressure vessel was made from a combination titanium and carbon fiber compiled. This is somewhat unusual from a structural engineering standpoint, as in the context of deep diving, titanium and carbon fiber are materials with very different properties.
Titanium is elastic and can withstand a wide range of loads without any measurable permanent stress remaining after returning to atmospheric pressure. It contracts to accommodate pressure forces and expands again when those forces are weakened. On the other hand, carbon fiber composite is much stiffer and does not have the same resilience.
We can only guess what happened to the combination of these two technologies, which dynamically behave differently under pressure.
But what we can say with almost certainty is that some loss of integrity due to differences between these materials. The composite material can potentially suffer from “delamination”, which leads to separation of the reinforcing layers.
This would create a defect that would cause instant explosion due to underwater pressure. In less than a second, an underwater vehicle thrown down under the weight of a 3800-meter water column would immediately collapse from all sides.
When everything is designed, built and tested, it is shaped close enough to perfection to withstand the general pressure exerted from all sides. In this case, the material can “breathe”: shrink and expand as needed with depth.
Titan explosion means it didn’t happen.
The explosion itself would have killed everyone in less than 20 milliseconds. In fact, the human brain can’t even process information at that speed.
As devastating as the news is, perhaps it will reassure some of Titan’s passengers that they would not have suffered a gruesome and protracted death.
Credits: Conversation.
Source: Aristegui Noticias
As an experienced journalist and author, Mary has been reporting on the latest news and trends for over 5 years. With a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines, Mary has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in the world of journalism. Her writing style is insightful, engaging and thought-provoking, as she takes a deep dive into the most pressing issues of our time.
