Just over a month ago, a devastating tragedy unfolded as the OceanGate submersible "Titan" imploded in the deep waters of the North Atlantic, claiming the lives of five crew members. As investigations into the incident continue, experts are trying to understand what could have led to the fatal implosion.
The ill-fated vessel was en route to explore the remains of the iconic Titanic, a maritime disaster that has captured the fascination of the public for decades. Among the passengers onboard were Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet.
A Detailed Recreation of the Implosion
In the quest for answers, AiTELLY, a company specializing in 3D engineering animations, has released a YouTube video that vividly recreates the implosion. The six-minute video, posted on June 30, has already gone viral, amassing over six million views. It offers a graphic and didactic representation of the implosion's mechanics.
Understanding Implosion
An implosion occurs when external pressure becomes so overwhelming that it surpasses the vessel's structural resistance. In the case of the Titan, the immense underwater pressure deformed the vehicle's structure, leading to a catastrophic inward collapse.
Unlike an explosion that releases energy outward, an underwater implosion channels the energy into the object itself, generating a shock wave that compresses air and water with tremendous force. This compression creates a vacuum bubble that rapidly collapses, intensifying the impact.
Carbon Fiber Construction Blamed
According to the video narration, the Titan's carbon fiber construction is being held responsible for the accident. At a staggering depth of almost 13,000 feet (4,000 meters), where the Titanic rests, the pressure reaches around 5,600 pounds per square inch—approximately 400 times the pressure experienced at the surface. Previous submarine designs have relied on materials like steel, titanium, and aluminum to withstand such immense pressures, but the Titan's experimental carbon fiber design apparently failed to provide sufficient protection.
The investigation into this tragic incident is ongoing, and the recreation offered by AiTELLY's 3D animation serves as a crucial piece of the puzzle, shedding light on the potential factors that led to the submersible's implosion.
