Difficulties Arise in Designing Safe Hulls Using Carbon Fibers for Submersibles, Physics Professor Discusses
A physics professor has shed light on the challenges posed by using carbon fiber for the hull of the Titan submersible. According to the professor, there are concerns about the material’s ability to endure the immense underwater pressures experienced at great depths.
The Titanic, lying at a depth of approximately 12,500 feet, exists under a pressure that is around 400 times greater than on the surface. This extreme force raises questions about whether carbon fiber can withstand such conditions.
Northeastern University’s Arun Bansil, speaking to Northeastern Global News, highlighted that carbon fiber-based composites have been successful in industries such as aerospace, automotive, sports, medical, and consumer sectors for components requiring a combination of lightweight and high strength.
However, the situation changes when deep-sea applications come into play. “Steel, titanium, and aluminum are widely used for making pressure hulls in deep-sea vehicles,” explained Bansil.
The Titan submersible was groundbreaking as it possessed a hull primarily made of carbon fibers. Nonetheless, the professor emphasized that the capacity of carbon fibers to endure repeated cycles of stress, particularly compressive stress, under the extreme pressures encountered deep underwater is not well understood. Consequently, designing safe hulls based on carbon fibers becomes challenging.
This revelation raises a concern regarding the safety of submersibles that rely on carbon fiber hulls. The uncertainty surrounding the material’s ability to withstand immense underwater pressures could undermine the reliable operation of deep-sea vehicles.
To ensure the safety and effectiveness of future submersibles, further research and exploration into the abilities and limitations of carbon fiber as a hull material at great depths may be necessary. This understanding could pave the way for the development of new materials or hybrid designs that better withstand the extreme forces of the deep-sea environment.