How did the Titanic Sink?

This article analyzes the reasons behind the sinking of the Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean in 1912. The Titanic struck an iceberg in the ocean and sank within hours. Equipped with only 20 lifeboats, the Titanic went down with the loss of 1523 passengers and crew. Recent engineering evidence suggests that the ship experienced a hull failure at the surface and broke into pieces before it went down. The analysis supports some witnesses’ testimony that the ship likely began to fracture at the surface, and that the fracture was completed at some unknown depth below the water’s surface. The resulting stress levels in the strength deck below the root of the second expansion joint (aft), and in the inner bottom structure directly below, were very high because of the unusual flooding occurring in the forward half of the ship. These patterns of stress support the argument that initial hull failure likely occurred at the surface.

Key Points

Eyewitness Accounts:

Survivors had differing views on whether the Titanic broke apart at the surface or sank intact.
Some survivors reported hearing cracking sounds and seeing the ship break apart before sinking.

Discovery and Analysis:

The wreck of the Titanic was found in two main pieces in 1985, reigniting the debate about how it sank.
Subsequent expeditions found a third section, leading to further investigations.

Engineering Study:

Gibbs & Cox conducted a finite element analysis (FEA) to study the stresses on the Titanic’s hull.
The study used data from previous research and metallurgical tests on steel recovered from the wreck.

Stress Analysis Findings:

High-stress regions were identified in the hull, particularly around the expansion joints and the inner bottom of the ship.
The stresses were found to be at or above the yield strength of the steel, suggesting the possibility of catastrophic failure.

Structural Failures:

The analysis indicated that the hull likely began to fracture at the surface due to the stresses from flooding.
The bow and stern sections separated, with the bow sinking first and the stern following after some time.

Metallurgical Testing:

Tests on the Titanic’s steel revealed high levels of sulphur, phosphorus, and oxygen, which contributed to its brittleness.
The steel’s mechanical properties were inferior to modern standards, making it more susceptible to fracture.

Conclusion:

The study supports the theory that the Titanic broke apart at the surface due to structural stresses.
The findings highlight the limitations of the materials and design used in the Titanic, contributing to its tragic sinking.

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Citation:
Dan Deitz (1998) How did the Titanic Sink?, Mechanical Engineering

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