Modified on July 4, 2023 | 18:53
When the submersible Titan catastrophically imploded, the world watched in shock. All five people on board perished, leading many to question: How did the submersible implode and why did it happen?
What is an implosion?
Put simply, an implosion is the opposite of an explosion, where the force is inward, not outward. Deep in the ocean, a submersible is under intense pressure. If this force exceeds the strength of the hull, the vehicle will implode violently. This implosion releases a tremendous amount of energy that tragically results in the instant deaths of all occupants, as was the case with the Titan crew.
How do submarines generally withstand these extreme conditions? It all comes down to hull design and materials. Traditional options like steel, titanium, and aluminum have proven effective under heavy pressure.
However, the Titan’s hull deviated from the conventional, using mostly carbon fiber an experimental design decision. The appeal of carbon fibers? Its lightness allows more space for passengers. Unfortunately, its offshore application properties are not well known. The hull can break suddenly, which probably contributed to the tragic end of the Titan, which had to withstand a pressure of 400 kg per square centimeter.
How did the Titan submersible implode?
Titan is an adjustment pro it’s stretchy and adapts to changes in pressure without batting an eyelid. When the pressure is released, it returns to its original shape. Carbon fiber on the other hand? It’s like that obstinate friend we all have who refuses to change their behavior no matter what. According to The Conversation, carbon fiber is stiff and inflexible and not a big fan of stretchiness.
So what happens when these two materials are thrown together during deep diving? Because they respond differently to pressure, their connection can result in a loss of integrity.
Here’s a possible scenario: Composite carbon fibers can suffer from “delamination,” a fancy term for the layers of reinforcement breaking apart. This vulnerability could then trigger an instantaneous implosion thanks to our friend the underwater pressure.
Imagine the pressure of a 14,000foot column of water descending on the sub at once and boom in less than a second, it’s crumpled on all sides. The result? An underwater implosion that is as fast as it is devastating.
When everything is perfectly designed, manufactured and tested, you have a nearperfect shape that can withstand full pressure from all directions. In this scenario, the material is allowed to “breathe”—shrink and expand with depth as needed. The Titan implosion shows that this did not happen.
The implosion itself would have killed everyone on board in less than 20 milliseconds. In fact, the human brain cannot even process information at that speed. As devastating as the news is, it is perhaps a little comforting to know that Titan’s passengers did not suffer a horrible and long end.
What can be done to prevent future disasters? Prioritize rigorous testing and careful selection of materials. The use of unproven materials, such as the carbon fiber in Titan’s hull, must be done with extreme caution. Exploring the deep sea is not about saving space; It’s a struggle for survival against the brutal pressure of the ocean.
The Titan’s implosion underscores the need for safety in our quest for underwater exploration. While innovation is vital, it must never overshadow safety. By respecting the strength of the ocean and maintaining strict standards, we can hope to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.
EditorinChief of Mistérios do Mundo since 2011. I like to travel, enjoy good music and read. It won the Digital Influencer Award in the Oddities category.