Civil engineering student applies concepts of fluid mechanics in examination of Titan implosion for CE 3250 project

On June 18, 2023, the Titan Submersible experienced a catastrophic structural failure during a deep-sea expedition to the wreckage of the Titanic. Despite its reinforced hull, a combination of immense pressure and unforeseen geological activity caused the vehicle to implode, resulting in the loss of all crew members and valuable scientific equipment onboard. 

The incident prompted a reassessment of deep-sea exploration protocols and led to renewed emphasis on safety measures and technological advancements in submersible design. This consideration was the center of a project recently completed by a Wayne State University civil engineering student. 

“The submersible imploded within a matter of milliseconds, proving this tragedy to be an engineering disaster worth researching and understanding,” said Cat Llope, who investigated the tragedy as part of her CE 3250: Applied Fluid Dynamics course, guided by Professor Carol Miller. 

Llope, a fourth-year student on track to graduate next December, was having difficulty in Miller’s class understanding the concept of hydrostatic force. Miller helped put it into context by using the Titan as an example of how hydrostatic force affects objects submerged in fluid. 

“That moment in class helped me connect all the abstract concepts we had been discussing for weeks in class to the real-world situations they are actually describing,” said Llope. “It sparked a fascination with the Titan Submersible and fluid mechanics as a whole.” 

Fluid mechanics involves the study of the behavior of fluids ― liquids, gases and plasmas ― and how they flow, interact with solid boundaries, and respond to external forces such as pressure and temperature. 

Llope examined the circumstances of the Titan from many perspectives, including the construction and composition of the submersible, what errors could have contributed to its failure, and what aspects of theoretical fluid mechanics apply to the scenario. 

“The Titan Submersible had a cylindrically shaped body consisting of a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) hull and two titanium alloy caps on either end,” said Llope in her report. “The design allowed for too many points of high stress in the seams and midsections of the CFRP composite cylinder.” 

She went on to summarize that the Titan “was subjected to 38,321 kPa of pressure as well as at least 430,000 kN of force for a matter of hours over two dozen times. When a piece of machinery is repeatedly subjected to extremely high pressure and dangerous operating environments it is important to strictly follow agreed upon testing, monitoring, and inspection of the structures’ integrity.” 

Opportunities such as this CE 3250 project to connect such critical concepts of engineering and physics to real-world scenarios is a hallmark of the College of Engineering pedagogy. Wayne State faculty believe such assignments can prepare students to create viable solutions and innovations. 

Llope's immediate career plans include an upcoming summer position with OHM Advisors, an award-winning community advancement firm based in Southeast Michigan that provides architecture, engineering and planning services. 

“I will have the opportunity to gain insight into many different fields of civil engineering through this internship,” said Llope, “such as urban planning, transportation, water works, waste management, design and landscape engineering.”