4 ms·
My assumption is the decompression event would have put the velocity of that decompression on the door/bolts and they are going to be weaker - and the addition
by samstave 3y ago
My assumption is the decompression event would have put the velocity of that decompression on the door/bolts and they are going to be weaker - and the addition of a window into a plug/door like this adds structural mass to add to that which is being sucked out via the decompression putting them over spec load for that area - but since it was a plug, the surrounding structure was still sound - just that thing couldnt handle the load.
EDIT: Maybe the bolts have a really high shearing tolerance, but not as good of a tensile pull?
- tavavex 3y agoI don't think there were any modern cases of airliner windows just being removed like that. They're fairly strong and consist of multiple layers of acrylic that are sandwiched between other components, so the entire window assembly would need to get torn out. Even then, it doesn't seem realistic that the difference in pressure would be big enough to instantly rip a properly-attached door clean off. Of course, only the experts can tell for sure, but my money's on a failure of the whole structure.
- samstave 3y agoSee my other post. Not in agreement.