Photos of the Titan sub's wreckage support the theory that the carbon-fiber hull failed first, expert says
Marianne Guenot
Jun 30, 2023, 9:48 AM CDT
An annotated image of part of the Titan submersible being moved ashore after its catastrophic implosion under the North Atlantic in June. CBC News/Insider
Onlookers caught glimpses of the Titan submersible wreckage as its crews brought its remains ashore.
These provide clues to what may have happened while a formal investigation is underway.
Though it's difficult to know for sure, an expert said the carbon-fiber hull likely failed first.
Photos of the Titan submersible wreckage support the theory that the vessel's carbon-fiber hull may have led to its catastrophic implosion, an expert told Insider.
The US Coast Guard brought debris from the Titan submersible ashore this week, giving onlookers a brief, imperfect glimpse as it was taken away for analysis.
Jasper Graham-Jones, an associate professor of mechanical and marine engineering at Plymouth University, analyzed footage and photos for Insider.
Though it is impossible to reach a definitive conclusion from these pictures alone, he said the most likely scenario was that the carbon-fiber hull gave way under the enormous pressure of the ocean depths.
Another possibility is that the ship's small front viewport gave way.
Here's why, picture by picture.
1. The titanium structural rings are intactAn annotated picture of the titanium structural rings pulled from the wreckage of the Titan submersible. CBC News/Insider
The picture above, taken by Canada's CBC News, shows structural titanium rings that supported the structure of the submersible. They are intact and, therefore, do not seem to have failed.
OceanGate Expeditions' controversial Titan submersible is thought to have imploded within hours of its descent toward the wreckage of the Titanic on June 18. The five passengers on board the submersible are presumed dead.
A forensic investigation is underway to determine the exact sequence of events and will conduct an exhaustive analysis on the remains to build a conclusive picture. In the meantime, photos, the Titan's own history, and expert opinions give us something to go on.
OceanGate's design of the submersible received heavy criticism over the years, especially for its use of a carbon-fiber-composite hull.
Most submersibles are made out of titanium, and many deep-sea experts told OceanGate that they were wary about the company using carbon fiber, which is not as strong.
The Titan's design featured two titanium rings bound to the carbon-fiber hull. The rings seem to have held firm, Graham-Jones said.
An annotated picture points to the approximate location of the structural titanium rings. OceanGate Expeditions/Reuters/Insider
"It shows that titanium was the right material to use, and linking with the composite was possibly the wrong material to use," he said.
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https://www.businessinsider.com/titanic-sub-photos-suggest-carbon-fiber-hull-to-blame-expert-says-2023-6