Re: the titanic submersible issue | Page 5 | GTAMotorcycle.com

Re: the titanic submersible issue

Read somewhere that they ran out of air about an hour or so ago. RIP.
The 96 hours is really grey. Apparently that was based on average people at rest and the amount they use. Even once levels start to drop, individuals deal with lower oxygen differently. It's not falling off the cliff, it's a slow drift. Some may survive much longer than others.
 
I don't see a lot of details on the construction other than Carbon Fibre and Titanium.

For those that slept through material courses... Carbon Fibre excels in tensile strength but leaves a lot to be desired in compression strength. Now you can arrange the layers to improve this (so some are always tensile) but it would not be my first choice for a pressure hull. Other parts yes.... From reports "the hull is made out of carbon fibre with titanium end plates."
 
I don't see a lot of details on the construction other than Carbon Fibre and Titanium.

For those that slept through material courses... Carbon Fibre excels in tensile strength but leaves a lot to be desired in compression strength. Now you can arrange the layers to improve this (so some are always tensile) but it would not be my first choice for a pressure hull. Other parts yes.... From reports "the hull is made out of carbon fibre with titanium end plates."
From what I have seen it is a carbon fibre tube 5" thick. CEO refused xray inspection. Ultrasound showed internal defects and he said it was thick enough so run with it. End caps were titanium (adhesive bonded). Window was rated to less than half of the dive depth (but that was an externally engineered product so factor of safety may have save them there).

CEO also refused to hire 50 yo white guys as they were too stodgy and not innovative enough (ie they had enough life experience to incorporate factors of safety and redundancy).
 
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If I was down there I'd have suggested we all get into a trance-like state to get our breathing to as little required as possible.
 
If I was down there I'd have suggested we all get into a trance-like state to get our breathing to as little required as possible.
Depending on what controls they had available (and most things seemed to be run by angry pixies so maybe not many), it may have been possible to stretch the supply. Normal air is just under 21% oxygen, OSHA requires 19.5% or more, 15% or less and you are at risk of death. I wouldn't be surprised if they ran oxygen a little high during a normal dive as it makes you feel better and more alert. In an emergency, if you could back oxygen off to 19.5 (or maybe even 15.5), everyone inside will automatically slow down and use less oxygen (and feel like shite). At 19.5 they should all be functional. Lower than that and at least some will lose the ability to function (which cuts down on their oxygen use even more but hopefully they are at worst in a coma and not suffering damage). That could drastically extend the time available if they have some control.

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From OSHA:
Human beings must breathe oxygen . . . to survive, and begin to suffer adverse health effects when the oxygen level of their breathing air drops below [19.5 percent oxygen]. Below 19.5 percent oxygen . . . , air is considered oxygen-deficient. At concentrations of 16 to 19.5 percent, workers engaged in any form of exertion can rapidly become symptomatic as their tissues fail to obtain the oxygen necessary to function properly (Rom, W., Environmental and Occupational Medicine, 2nd ed.; Little, Brown; Boston, 1992). Increased breathing rates, accelerated heartbeat, and impaired thinking or coordination occur more quickly in an oxygen-deficient environment. Even a momentary loss of coordination may be devastating to a worker if it occurs while the worker is performing a potentially dangerous activity, such as climbing a ladder. Concentrations of 12 to 16 percent oxygen cause tachypnea (increased breathing rates), tachycardia (accelerated heartbeat), and impaired attention, thinking, and coordination (e.g., Ex. 25-4), even in people who are resting.

At oxygen levels of 10 to 14 percent, faulty judgment, intermittent respiration, and exhaustion can be expected even with minimal exertion (Exs. 25-4 and 150). Breathing air containing 6 to 10 percent oxygen results in nausea, vomiting, lethargic movements, and perhaps unconsciousness. Breathing air containing less than 6 percent oxygen produces convulsions, then apnea (cessation of breathing), followed by cardiac standstill. These symptoms occur immediately. Even if a worker survives the hypoxic insult, organs may show evidence of hypoxic damage, which may be irreversible (Exs. 25-4 and 150; also reported in Rom, W. [see reference in previous paragraph]).
 
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I don't see a lot of details on the construction other than Carbon Fibre and Titanium.

It was built @ NASA’s skunkworks. The have a history of working on commercial projects that may have crossover use to them.
 
They found a debris field. Near the Titanic wreck. Assuming it’s not more Titanic bits as those have probably been well mapped.
 
They found a debris field. Near the Titanic wreck. Assuming it’s not more Titanic bits as those have probably been well mapped.
Press conference at 15:00 EDT. Images of debris field are in the hands of the surface team. It should be pretty easy to see if it is carbon/ti/pixies or iron/steam.

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All of the ships are now close together. Prior to the discovery they were spread out and searching. I'd be shocked if this wasn't over.
 
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It may be a Kevlar/carbon composite?
Kevlar will just add abrasion resistance but in general it has a lower tensile strength and no difference compressive. Tensile strength of a composite comes mainly from the fibres being "pulled", like pulling a string. Compressive strength comes mainly from the epoxy being compressed as a fibre (like a string) has no strength being pushed. The matrix or layup is not all fibres in one direction of course and orientation will provide strength in multiple planes. Regardless it is a less then optimum choice for a vessel where the pressure is higher on the outside as there is lots of compression forces.

Can it work, sure. Is it the best solution to the problem, likely no. In the end it is a submarine and they had to add ballast to it so a heavier material better suited to the problem might have been a better choice??? But is all about carbon fibre these days....
 
Kevlar will just add abrasion resistance but in general it has a lower tensile strength and no difference compressive. Tensile strength of a composite comes mainly from the fibres being "pulled", like pulling a string. Compressive strength comes mainly from the epoxy being compressed as a fibre (like a string) has no strength being pushed. The matrix or layup is not all fibres in one direction of course and orientation will provide strength in multiple planes. Regardless it is a less then optimum choice for a vessel where the pressure is higher on the outside as there is lots of compression forces.

Can it work, sure. Is it the best solution to the problem, likely no. In the end it is a submarine and they had to add ballast to it so a heavier material better suited to the problem might have been a better choice???
But carbon fibre is futuristic and space-age. The CEO seemed to be far more focused on marketing and tried to circumvent engineering whenever possible. A stainless pipe is not sexy.
 

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