4 ms·
I'll speculate that because they are pulling pieces of the Ti domes without signs of carbon attached to it that the joint there wasn't stiff enough, and that ca
by mechhacker 3y ago
I'll speculate that because they are pulling pieces of the Ti domes without signs of carbon attached to it that the joint there wasn't stiff enough, and that carbon separated during failure without plastically deforming the Ti at the joint.
But, that's speculation and I'd need to see more pics with more details.
- _yb2s 3y agoI would speculate that all of the carbon basically instantaneously liquefied under the pressure after a critical threshold of fibers failed, leaving the Ti untouched. I also want to mention that the large end caps you are seeing weren't bonded to the hull at all- there was a small Ti flange epoxied to the hull, and then the large domes were bolted to that. The front, with the window, was unbolted and rebolted every time for ingress/egress. There is no way that CF epoxied to thick Ti is going to make a strong enough bond that it will deform the Ti when it detaches. In this case, the geometry of that "glued" joint was such that it was forced together by the pressure underwater, rather than pulled apart- so it was not necessary for it to have any real strength other than for holding the end caps on at the surface, and filling voids to make it seal.
- mechhacker 3y agoI see. Thus that large Ti flange that was bonded to the dome didn't carry a load through the bolts significant enough to deform the dome either. Carbon gone in a flash and comes apart at that joint totally, Ti is left hanging in water.
- fullstop 3y agoI was hoping to see if that titanium flange was still bolted to the cap, but it's obscured by the tarp in the photo.
- mechhacker 3y agoI just saw this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP4SrLhUHY8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP4SrLhUHY8 Those tarps may be covering what's left of the crew
- fullstop 3y agoIn that case, I'm glad that it's covered.