Simulation shows how Titan sub collapsed 'millisecond by millisecond' as crew heard ominous 'loud pops and creaks'

25 July 2023, 09:21 | Updated: 27 July 2023, 12:56

How the Titan sub imploded
How the Titan sub imploded. Picture: Alamy/YouTube Dr.-Ing. Ronald Wagner

By Kit Heren

A simulation has shown how the Titan submersible would have imploded at each millisecond of its collapse.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate, the company that built and operated the Titan, died on the sub alongside the four other men onboard.

Titan's disappearance on June 18 sparked a huge international rescue effort, as experts raced to find the submersible in the days before its oxygen supplies ran out.

Read more: Survivor of failed Titan trip recalls moment passengers had to 'rock from side to side' to get sub back to surface

Read more: DNA tests being carried out on human remains recovered from wreck of Titan submersible

But it later emerged that the sub had suffered a catastrophic implosion because of the massive water pressure exerted on the hull.

Now a fresh analysis has been published showing the exact time frames of Titan’s implosion in millisecond intervals.

Read More: OceanGate's Stockton Rush said 'obscenely safe' sub design never evolved due to regulation

OceanGate: Simulation of Titan Implosion in ABAQUS

Dr Ronald Wagner, an expert in the buckling of thin-walled shell structures, explained how the sub "failed" with a "collapse of the cylindrical hull."

"The steps are in milliseconds," he said. "Your brain needs 13 milliseconds to process information from your eye. 

"That means that you need 13 milliseconds in order to get an image. But as you can see here, if we go forward 13 milliseconds, you would already be dead 10 milliseconds ago. 

"It happens so fast and in order to process pain, it’s 100 milliseconds, so they wouldn’t really have felt anything or saw anything coming. They would just be instantly dead."

Read more: Stockton Rush's OceanGate company behind doomed Titanic descent scrubs itself from the Internet

The Oceangate submersible 'Titan'
The Oceangate submersible 'Titan'. Picture: Alamy

At 33 milliseconds, the middle of the cylinder collapses to half its diameter, although the Titan remains intact.

At 34 milliseconds, the cylinder has been crushed small enough to kill anyone sitting in the middle of the vessel. The hull is also breaking up.

At 35 milliseconds the middle of the sub gives way.

Analysing the simulation, Engineering.com said: "Separation of the hull and the rush of water combined with fragments of composite material would have a horrible pulverizing effect on any animal tissue, even bone. Nobody could possibly be left intact."

But loud creaks and pops, as well as alarms, would have gone off onboard ahead of the implosion.

The Titan sub lost communication with company operatives on the surface on June 18, sparking a huge search. Debris was found on the sea floor days later and rescuers said that the sub had suffered a catastrophic implosion.

The others on board were UK billionaire Hamish Harding, French explorer Paul Henry Nargeolet, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son, Suleman.

Following the incident, it emerged that safety concerns were raised multiple times before, with several people including Ross Kemp and YouTuber Mr Beast having dropped out of doing similar trips.

As the Titanic wreckage is in international waters and the OceanGate expeditions were not operating out of a port, the trips were not subject to safety regulations.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

People continue their daily life under difficult conditions at Jabalia Refugee Camp, located in the north of the Gaza Strip, as they struggle to survive among the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli attacks

Judge lets Gazan family settle in UK under scheme for Ukrainian refugees, sparking fears of 'floodgates opening'

John Tuckett

Labour's new borders watchdog 'to work from home in Finland', 1,200 miles from London

President Donald Trump speaks with Jordan's King Abdullah II in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. (Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump doubles down on pledge to 'take over Gaza', as Netanyahu threatens return to war if Israeli hostages not freed

The Princess of Wales, Patron of Action for Children, during a visit to a mother and baby unit inside HMP Styal in Wilmslow

Kate met with wolf-whistles and cries for 'more funding' as she visits women's prison

Domestic cat balancing on garden fence, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Police hunt mystery cat coiffeur after felines in rural Lincolnshire village return home missing patches of fur

Liam Payne and Maya Henry

Liam Payne 'smoked heroin and sexted fans': Bombshell revelations as ex-fiancee breaks silence on star's death

Exclusive
Bridget Phillipson has said Yvette Cooper will 'make sure' vetting of Metropolitan Police officers is 'overhauled'

Home secretary will ensure 'overhaul' of Met vetting process following controversial High Court ruling, Phillipson says

Exclusive
James Cleverly

James Cleverly slams 'Orwellian' assisted dying bill as High Court judge sign-off to be scrapped

The Church of England's governing body has voted against a fully independent safeguarding body

Church of England vote 'a punch in the gut for victims' as Synod rejects independent safeguarding

Oliver Ryan and Andrew Gwynne have been suspended

Eleven Labour councillors suspended for being part of offensive WhatsApp group after two MPs also punished

A major travel agent has urged families to go on holiday during Easter rather than the summer

Save thousands by going on holiday at Easter instead of summer, British families told

Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to tear up the ceasefire deal

Netanyahu’s ultimatum to Hamas: Return hostages by Saturday deadline or ceasefire gives way to 'intense fighting'

Sir Alex Ferguson and Wayne Rooney were in attendance at Denis Law's funeral

Stars pay final respects to Denis Law as Manchester United legend laid to rest

Strangers bar is to reopen following spiking allegation

MPs bar to reopen with extra security after spiking claims

The bodies of Andrew Searle and his wife Dawn were discovered by a neighbour

Post-mortem results reveal fatal injuries of British couple found dead at home in rural French village

Salman Rushdie gives evidence in court as author gives evidence against alleged knife attacker

Salman Rushdie gives evidence in court as author gives evidence against alleged knife attacker