Just got done watching the documentary on the Oceangate submarine disaster.
The consensus was that it was a miracle that there were any actual successfull dives.
It wasn’t a matter of if, but when there would be a critical failure.
Which one? I heard there was two.
“Titan, The Oceangate Submersible Disaster”.
On Netflix.
I get many of the people didn’t understand the risk. I doubt I would have as I’m not an engineer but common sense I think would have saved me.
Oh you boot me into this thing. Umm no thanks
GF watched that recently, then had bad dreams.
One of the things they did right was the waiver that the passengers had to sign.
Almost all of the engineers quit.
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The guy had the credentials to sound like he knew what he was talking about. I wouldn’t have known carbon fiber is not designed for submarines.
I would have said no to the being bolted in a submarine. I know submarines have hatches for you to get out.
I’m not an engineer but since carbon bikes are popular, one thing you do know is that they don’t bend under pressure - they break. And they are not indestructible as the pressure of an accident has less pressure that what this “submarine” that looks like a pinched turd was subjected to. It works in aviation, which this arrogant asshole started out in) because it is a different type of pressure that takes advantage of carbon fiber’s strength. But external pressure highlights it’s weakness.
They are used for aircraft and wallets. That is about all I know about carbon fiber. Now i know bikes use carbon fiber as well.
Rush was an aero engineer. So he KNEW better. This isn’t a case where he didn’t know. He KNEW.
He was told by a multitude of engineers he was wrong, but actually sued a former engineer who filed a complaint with OSHA.
Also to make car parts like fenders, hood, trunks, etc. to make the car lighter.
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The real experts will tell you the only shape for very deep dives is a sphere. This smooth talking “used car salesman” wanted more space inside (for more bodies) so he invented this short hot dog thing that was destined to fail. Good thing he perished in his own creation 'cause he would have been sued to the end of the earth if he wasn’t on board.
I know there were waivers but do they legally stand up in gross incompetence?
Define right.
Signing away the consequences of one’s own incompetence and stupidity are self preserving, but not admirable in the least.
According to the documentary the waiver was so thorough that it covered everything and would hold up in a lawsuit.
I wonder though…as Glasspilot mentioned - if he hadn’t been on board, would that waiver cover a lawsuit against HIM?
That waiver for the company was made under the reasonable assumption that the thing was safe. But would evidence of him saying that safety is overrated…that he broke a lot of rules…that "people say you don’t use carbon fiber, well I did…HIS words that show a willful neglect of something that was a reasonable assumption?
Yes. it’s a risk…that’s what the customers were signing. But had they known his feeling about rules and safety, would they have signed it?
I do not know the outcome of any lawsuits, but I am sure a good lawyer could probably find a way through the waiver. I am just repeating what the show said.
Oh…..100%!!
I know, but unless those people were told that he said safety is overrated and that he broke a lot of rules - the waiver protects the company. And as cocky as this SOB was, he may well have bragged that he was a leader and a visionary and rules were made to be broken. And if they knew that, they were idiots for signing the waiver.
One of the main points was that he refused to get “classed”, meaning no third party certification.
And it was not flagged by any country
Carbon fiber is wonderful stuff and some applications have been mentioned. Bicycles, golf clubs, etc.
My favorite application is piano action which uses thousands of carbon fiber parts. It replaces the traditional wood which has its well know issues, and is superior.
Usage for a high pressure vessel would be quite another matter. It’s a strength of materials riddle. A Mechanical Engineering thing. That is why the Engineers would run from it.