Wreckage Of Titan Submersible Reveal How It Imploded

Summary

Scott Manley discusses the ongoing investigation into the implosion of OceanGate's Titan submersible, which occurred while exploring the Titanic wreck. He shares details from witness testimonies and new footage of the wreckage. Key points include the design flaws of the sub's carbon fiber hull, possible failure points, and testimonies from fired engineers and experts. Manley explores the science behind the sub's catastrophic failure and provides his own analysis on why the implosion likely began at the interface between the carbon fiber and titanium end rings.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The investigation into OceanGate's Titan submersible disaster, which occurred while exploring the Titanic, is now public, revealing detailed testimonies and insights.
• 🛠️ Several key engineers, including one who was fired after questioning design choices, have testified, sharing their concerns about the sub's safety.
• 🚤 The submersible's lead engineer and operations manager, both fired for raising safety concerns, emphasized design flaws, including an incident where the CEO crashed a submarine into the Andrea Doria wreck.
• 📉 The sub’s final moments showed unreliable communications via an acoustic modem, with the last message stating they had dropped two weights, indicating an attempt to slow descent, not an emergency.
• 💥 The implosion was violent and instantaneous, with evidence suggesting a catastrophic failure at the carbon fiber hull’s forward section, which is where water pressure likely penetrated first.
• 🔧 Carbon fiber, used in the Titan’s pressure hull, was questioned for its reliability, despite successful Navy use of similar materials, though design and manufacturing flaws likely contributed to the failure.
• 📹 New footage from an ROV shows extensive wreckage, with the forward carbon fiber pressure hull shattered and the rear sections more intact, indicating the failure started in the front.
• 🧪 Engineering analysis, including finite element studies, predicted buckling in the pressure hull, but real-world construction flaws may have exacerbated the structural weaknesses.
• 🔩 A key interface between the titanium rings and the carbon fiber hull may have been the weak point where the failure began, possibly due to mismatched compression properties between the materials.
• ⚠️ Cost-cutting, regulatory sidestepping, and poor-quality control during manufacturing—such as improper humidity control during carbon fiber layup—likely compounded the risks and led to the disaster.

Q & A

What is the focus of the investigation mentioned in the transcript?

The investigation focuses on the implosion of OceanGate's Titan submersible during its expedition to the Titanic wreck.

Who were the key witnesses mentioned in the testimony so far?

Key witnesses include a lead engineer who was fired for questioning design decisions, David Lockridge (a Scottish submersible expert), and Tim Catterson, who managed the launch of the submersible.

What incident involving the CEO Stockton Rush was highlighted by David Lockridge?

David Lockridge detailed how CEO Stockton Rush crashed a submarine into the wreck of the Andrea Doria, a prior incident involving poor operational decisions.

What are the suspected causes of the Titan submersible’s failure?

The suspected cause is the failure of the carbon fiber pressure hull, potentially due to a weak interface between the carbon fiber barrel and the titanium end rings, causing the vessel to implode under extreme pressure.

What was unusual about the communication system on the Titan submersible?

The submersible used an acoustic modem, sending clicks through water to communicate with the ship. Communication was unreliable, with the last message indicating the sub had dropped weights to slow its descent before contact was lost.

What did the first footage from the ROV reveal about the submersible wreckage?

The ROV footage revealed the tail cone of the submersible, which was largely intact. It also showed the shattered carbon fiber around the pressure hull, suggesting a failure at the front of the pressure vessel.

What evidence suggests that the failure started at the front of the submersible?

Debris patterns indicated that the failure began at the forward bulkhead, with the carbon fiber being pushed backward into the tail cone. This suggests that water entered from the front, causing the implosion.

Why was carbon fiber considered a poor material choice for the Titan’s pressure hull?

Many experts believed that using carbon fiber was risky because it is less predictable under high pressures, unlike steel or titanium. There were concerns about manufacturing imperfections and stress at the interfaces.

What was unusual about the oxygen scrubber design used in the Titan submersible?

The oxygen scrubber was a homemade design involving a plastic container with a small fan to blow air over the absorbent material, which raised safety concerns.

What role did cost-cutting and regulatory avoidance play in the Titan's failure?

Cost-cutting and regulatory avoidance were significant contributors to the failure. CEO Stockton Rush ignored warnings, fired engineers who questioned safety, and implemented substandard designs to reduce costs.