Brittle Fracture
Metallurgical testing revealed that the Titanic’s hull steel was prone to brittle fracture, especially in cold water, making it susceptible to cracking on impact with the iceberg.
Rivet Quality
Weaknesses in the wrought iron rivets used in the hull seams, including irregular spacing and high slag content, compromised structural integrity under stress.
Structural Weakness at Expansion Joints
Expansion joints, necessary for the ship’s length, concentrated stress in critical areas, particularly near the third funnel, which contributed to the breakup.
Iceberg Impact
The collision caused localized buckling and rivet popping along the starboard hull, resulting in a sequence of leaks in watertight compartments.
Forensic Expeditions
Data from multiple expeditions from 1985 onward confirmed that the Titanic split apart on the surface due to stress concentrations exacerbated by flooding.
Failure Sequence
As flooding progressed, a complex interplay of buoyancy loss, internal flooding, and brittle fractures led to the Titanic breaking into two main sections before fully submerging.
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Citation:
William H. Garzke, Daniel C. Brown, A. D. Sandiford (1994) The structural failure of the Titanic, Proceedings of OCEANS'94, Vol. 3
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