Conclusive Explosion Evidence
Of primary importance to my implosion-explosion conclusions, the NTSB reported that ''The titanium segments [or rings]' 'were slightly ovalized. The top and bottom of each segment had deformed radially outward and the port and starboard sides had deformed radially inward' ("Titan Submersible Marine Board of Investigation, Materials - Group Chair's Factual Report 24-011", a.ntsb.gov/Docket/?NTSBNumber=DCA23FM036). That is, the titanium rings at each end of the carbon fiber hull were ovalized. Such ovalization had to have formed due to the ovalization of the hull as the hull violently ruptured. From Figure 2, the forces from the structural supports oppose the pressure forces assumed to act on the hull. If the hull initially imploded the titanium rings would have deflected inward at the top and bottom, which was not the case - and if the hull initially exploded the titanium rings would have deflected upward at the top and bottom, which was the case. That is, the observed bending of the titanium rings prove that a viewport explosion did, in fact, blow the Titan hull into pieces.
Figure 2. Comparison of actual explosion hull deformation to theoretical hull implosion.
(Image by Leishear Engineering, LLC) Details DMCA
Additional Test Data
The NTSB performed extensive analysis, and some of their data is provided here. ("Titan Submersible Marine Board of Investigation, Materials - Group Chair's Factual Report 24-011 and 24-012", a.ntsb.gov/Docket/?NTSBNumber=DCA23FM036).
Pilot Scale Testing
A pilot scale test and fatigue tests were not performed for the final Titan hull, but one-third-scale pressure tests for earlier Titan designs confirmed an implosion-explosion event (Figure 3). This small-scale test was not fully representative of the final Titan disaster, but clearly demonstrated that implosion-preceding-explosion events are possible for small underwater vessels.
Prior Hull Banging Noises
In an earlier dive (dive 80), 'an audible 'loud bang' was heard' on the Titan. The NTSB noted that strain measurements on the hull changed during and after that dive, during that bang (Figure 4). However, the Coast Guard's chief investigator for the disaster did make such a claim when he stated that 'additional f4bers were breaking after dive 80' [of 88] 'It is really, in my mind, the smoking gun that eventually caused this'' [disaster] (click here).
Figure 4. Acoustic amplitude, or sound, measurement of banging sound sound, where several successful dives followed.
(Image by NTSB) Details DMCA
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