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Re:Debris field found in search for missing submersible by accrual on Thursday June 22, 2023 @03:13PM (#36437213)
I felt it was kind of telling that they found the two titanium end caps in the debris field, presumably intact, but only pieces of the pressure hull.
Re:Debris field found in search for missing submersible by saberdancer on Thursday June 22, 2023 @04:02PM (#36437993)
I'm curious if the window remained intact. This seemed like a logical failure point.
Re:Debris field found in search for missing submersible by 0x0203 on Thursday June 22, 2023 @05:01PM (#36438937)
My guess would be that the window wasn't the failure point, assuming that pressure hull was indeed found in many pieces. If the window did go first, the pressure delta on the rest of the hull immediately begins to equalize, so the amount of force the hull is under immediately goes down, making failure of the hull instantly less likely. The inertia of all the water rapidly entering the vessel might do some damage, but that inertia would have to overcome both the pressure of the ocean pressing in on the outside of the hull, and the tensile strength of the carbon fiber, which is stronger in tension than compression. So my guess would be that if the window failed, it would result in mostly just the titanium end caps being blown off rather than a complete destruction of the hull.

If the hull itself failed, however, given the way carbon fiber fails, finding the hull in many pieces seems to be the expected result.

Re:Debris field found in search for missing submersible by trollied on Thursday June 22, 2023 @05:20PM (#36439178)
https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/titan-could-have-vulnerabilitie...

> the submersible was designed to reach depths of 4,000 metres, but Lochridge said the passenger viewpoint (window) was only certified for depths of up to 1,300 metres

Re:Debris field found in search for missing submersible by xvector on Thursday June 22, 2023 @09:32PM (#36441696)
The window had worked fine for dozens of past dives - just because something isn't "certified" doesn't mean it won't work reliably.

The carbon fiber hull was a much bigger concern.

Re:Debris field found in search for missing submersible by watwut on Friday June 23, 2023 @03:54AM (#36444035)
Something working in dozens of dives does not imply it keeping to work in the next one.
Re:Debris field found in search for missing submersible by CryptoBanker on Friday June 23, 2023 @12:21PM (#36449010)
You can recycle your argument for the hull...what's your point?
Re:Debris field found in search for missing submersible by xvector on Tuesday June 27, 2023 @10:45AM (#36493619)
Unlike the window, the carbon fiber hull had to be replaced due to stress fatigue. It was a known issue on the sub.
Re:Debris field found in search for missing submersible by scotty79 on Friday June 23, 2023 @04:34AM (#36444280)
If the window failed the sheer momentum of inrushing water would probably blow the opposite cap out. Or even tear the whole thing to pieces.
Re:Debris field found in search for missing submersible by meepmorp on Thursday June 22, 2023 @05:01PM (#36438939)
The hull is just as likely a source of failure - there's a reason why deep diving subs use spherical metal pressure vessels.