Part 9/14:
Material and Structural Failures
The reports detail microstructural flaws contributing to the failure:
Wrinkles and Voids: Corrected layering processes aimed to eliminate wrinkles—weak points formed during composite winding and curing—failed at some sections. Voids in glue joints and inconsistencies in fiber orientation created stress risers.
Buckling and Wrinkles: The shells exhibited buckling aligned with the length of the vessel, likely initiated along weak spots such as delaminated layers or void-rich segments. These buckles then propagated, weakening the hull further.
Layer Separation and Weak Bonds: Gaps between composite layers, exacerbated by imperfect adhesives, created pathways for water ingress and localized stress concentrations.