DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

Ships like the Titanic and the Lusitania were elaborate structures that required a great deal of attention. They both were exposed to long trips that led them to encounter dangerous environmental conditions. One of the most important factors that contributed to the failure of the Titanic were the material causes. The rivets on the ship were extremely important. With over 3 million rivets to hold the ship in place, a fault in the construction of the rivets would be detrimental to the ships structure. Between the construction of the rivets and the environmental conditions they had undergone, the rivets became a major contributor to the failure of the ship. In the experiment conducted by Professor Halada, two types of steel were tested in two different environments to see how "tough" they are. The amount of energy they absorb before breaking was measured in each demonstration. It was discovered that the 10-18 steel and the 12-15 steel were tougher in room temperature conditions then in colder temperatures. This could prove that the reasoning for the rivets popping open on the Titanic during the collision was because of the freezing temperatures they were exposed to. As temperatures decrease, the steel becomes weaker causing the metal to become brittle and break easier.  

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.