Re:Debris field found in search for missing submersible
by antognini on Friday June 23, 2023 @12:15AM
(#36442720)
> creaking of the bulkheads
One of the counterintuitive features of submarines is that they're not built to be waterproof at the surface. The various parts of the hull aren't welded shut and instead rely on the external pressure to press them shut at depth. Making them waterproof at the surface ends up making them less able to resist the pressure at depth.
Re:Debris field found in search for missing submersible
by upon_drumhead on Friday June 23, 2023 @01:57AM
(#36443318)
So what do they do when they run on the surface?
Re:Debris field found in search for missing submersible
by martijnvds on Friday June 23, 2023 @02:15AM
(#36443443)
.. sink?
Re:Debris field found in search for missing submersible
by antognini on Friday June 23, 2023 @12:08PM
(#36448815)
My understanding is that they pump the water back out.
Re:Debris field found in search for missing submersible
by xwdv on Friday June 23, 2023 @12:33AM
(#36442805)
The timeline says the sub was expected back at 3PM, but the implosion was heard at night. So in between the hours of 3PM to when the explosion was heard, I speculate the sub was somehow trapped and unable to leave the wreck site, until after finally spending all that time at depth something happened that suddenly caused an implosion.
Re:Debris field found in search for missing submersible
by 111111IIIIIII on Friday June 23, 2023 @01:40AM
(#36443222)
Your comment was perfectly clear to me. I'm not sure how it was so misinterpreted.
Re:Debris field found in search for missing submersible
by jethro_tell on Friday June 23, 2023 @12:18PM
(#36448971)
Ah, I did misunderstand your comment though from what I heard the implosion was heard about 2 hours after the sub left the mothership. Which would put them there before entering the sub and before making it the full depth.
I'm sure it will be a little more clear as all the parts get put together.
So, at 4000m you're looking at something between 4500 5500 psi. Thats a small truck worth of pressure every square inch in the hull. Once you breach the structure, think crushing a tin can in the middle, things collapse pretty fast.
As do bodies. If you figure your body is 2 foot by 6 foot, the pressure would be like parking 100 fully loaded 18 wheelers on a single body within a split second of each other.
Every book or encounter you read about submariners has a section talking about the creaking of the bulkheads and wondering how long it can hold because it's such a nature defying act to build something that can hold that pressure out in the first place.