Marine Forensic Analysis of the RMS TITANIC

During Oceans Conference in 1994, there was a panel discussion on how the RMS Titanic met her fate on 14 April 1912. Was it a case of brittle fracture? Was there a 300-foot gash as some writers have written? Did the ship fracture in two or three pieces and, if so, why did it happen? In 1996 and again in 1998, the Discovery Channel and the RMS Titanic, Inc. mounted expeditions to the wreck site to answer these questions. The assistance of the Marine Forensics Panel of the Society of the Naval Architects and Marine Engineers was requested to provide technical assistance for a marine forensic investigation. This paper will demonstrate the techniques that are now available for solving the riddle of famous ship losses such as the Titanic using modern technology and computer analysis.

Key Points

Structural Integrity and Rivet Quality

Forensic analysis revealed inconsistent rivet quality and high slag content, weakening the riveted seams and making the ship vulnerable to fracturing on impact.

Impact of the Iceberg

The Titanic’s collision caused a sequence of hull breaches along its starboard side due to rivet failure, contrary to early assumptions of a large gash.

Modern Forensic Techniques

Technologies like sonar imaging, finite element modelling (FEM), and metallurgical tests have provided accurate damage assessments and stress simulations.

Stress Concentration and Breakup

FEM simulations indicated that the midship stress levels exceeded material yield strength before sinking, leading to a structural breakup at the surface.

Comparative Metallurgy

Testing revealed Titanic’s hull steel was not as brittle as once believed, with performance close to modern equivalents, yet still compromised by the low-quality rivets.

Revised Understanding of ‘Unsinkability’

The Titanic met many safety standards of its era, but the flawed rivets and joint designs were critical weaknesses under iceberg impact stresses.

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Citation:
William H. Garzke, Jr., Dr. Timothy Foecke, Paul Matthias, David Wood Marine Forensic Analysis of the RMS TITANIC, OCEANS 2000 MTS/IEEE Conference and Exhibition. Conference Proceedings (Cat. No.00CH37158), IEEE

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