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Did real time opinion while the Titanic sank really account for it sinking so drastically?
Citation
Citation
D'Alto, Nick. "What Sank the Titanic? A FORENSIC ANALYSIS." Odyssey, vol. 21, no. 4, Apr. 2012, p. 11.http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/74005502/what-sank-titanic-forensic-analysis.
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Abstract
Abstract
When the “unsinkable” ship sank, people argued about who or what could’ve possibly caused this tragedy. Some seem to think that the rivets on the ship was the cause of the Titanic’s failure. The rivets are the nails that held the Titanic’s frame. About 3,000,000 were used on the ship. Strong steel rivets were used at the ship’s center section, while weaker iron rivets were used where the iceberg had struck.
Quoted Research
Quoted Research
“Metalworking was less advanced a century ago; Titanic's rivets were made in small batches, so their quality varied. Very strong steel rivets secured the ship's center section, but weaker iron rivets held the plates where the iceberg struck. Tiny imperfections in the iron (called slag) weakened these rivets.” (D’Alto 1)
“According to the metal-component theory, the world's largest ship may have failed at the atomic level; the molecules of its metal parts simply couldn't stand the impact; some rivets gave way, and the plates opened.” (D’Alto 1)
Citation
Citation
BROAD, WILLIAM J. “In Weak Rivets, a Possible Key to Titanic's Doom.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 15 Apr. 2008, www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/science/15titanic.html.
Abstract
Abstract
It’s been 96 years since the great Titanic sank. While many people think Captain Smith is responsible, and others Bruce Ismay, some believe that the rivets used on the ship are at fault. Researchers have found that the rivets used on the stern and bow were iron, and the rivets used on the hull, were steel. The iceberg hit the bow, where 6 seams opened up in the ship’s bow plates. Scientists argue that if higher quality rivets had been used on the ship, the people could’ve been saved.
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“The scientists discovered that Harland and Wolff also used steel rivets — but only on the Titanic’s central hull, where stresses were expected to be greatest. Iron rivets were chosen for the stern and bow.” (Broad 1)
“For a decade, the scientists have argued that the storied liner went down fast after hitting an iceberg because the ship’s builder used substandard rivets that popped their heads and let tons of icy seawater rush in. More than 1,500 people died.” (Broad 1)
By William J. Broad
Researcher: Annabella Davis
Citation
Citation
Broad, William J. “Faulty Rivets Emerge as Clues To Titanic Disaster.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 27 Jan. 1998, http://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/27/science/faulty-rivets-emerge-as-clues-to-titanic-disaster.html
Abstract
Abstract
Experts believe that the rivets the builders of the Titanic used are the reason the Titanic sank. They brought up the rivets from the Titanic and saw that they had high levels of slag, which made them prone to fracture. They think that the rivets popped and let the plates separate which allowed water get in. Many other experts disagree with this theory, but this may be the actual reason of the Titanic sinking.
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"Now, after years of analysis and any number of false leads, experts say they have preliminary evidence suggesting that the Titanic, the biggest ship of her day, a dream of luxury come to life, may have been done in by structural weaknesses in some of her smallest and least glamorous parts: the rivets"(Broad p3).
"While it is not clear whether a better grade of rivets would have saved the ship, he said, the developing evidence points in that direction"(Broad p10).
by William J. Broad
Researcher Jordan Galicia
Citation
Citation
BROAD, WILLIAM J. “In Weak Rivets, a Possible Key to Titanic's Doom.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 15 Apr. 2008, www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/science/15titanic.html.
Abstract
Abstract
Researchers have spent years searching through the wreck of the Titanic, looking over the wreck over and over and over again. Many of the researchers wondered, “Why was the Titanic damaged by the iceberg so much?” But after years they found an answer: The rivets. Two rivets on the Titanic were fished up by scientists, and they were not made out of steel, like rivets were supposed to be made up of, but iron. Iron is considerably weaker than steel, so when the Titanic was hit by the iceberg that fateful day, the rivets might have broken off the hull and made the Titanic fall apart faster than it should have.
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Notable Quotations
“Now, after years of analysis and any number of false leads, experts say they have preliminary evidence suggesting that the Titanic, the biggest ship of her day, a dream of luxury come to life, may have been done in by structural weaknesses in some of her smallest and least glamorous parts: the rivets.” (Broad p3).
“Two wrought-iron rivets from the Titanic's hull were recently hauled up from the depths for scientific analysis and were found to be riddled with unusually high concentrations of slag, making them brittle and prone to fracture.” (Broad p4).
Citation
Citation
BROAD, WILLIAM J. “In Weak Rivets, a Possible Key to Titanic's Doom.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 15 Apr. 2008, www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/science/15titanic.html.
Abstract
Abstract
Scientists have discovered many of the fatal flaws of the Titanic that sent it to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean over 100 years ago. Researchers have found that the iron rivets were inserted unevenly, and many were low-quality. But why? It was because the Titanic was rushed to be sailed for its maiden voyage. The rivets were weak, so when the iceberg hit the ship, the airtight compartments burst open, causing them to flood. Many researchers have wondered, Why did such a large ship sink so quickly? But now, they finally found an answer. The Titanic’s weak iron rivets.
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“The steel and wrought iron fasteners used to hold the metal plates together had been inserted unevenly, and some were low-quality - due to the vessel being rushed out for its maiden voyage.” (Waugh p3)
“Poor-quality rivets meant part of hull that hit iceberg was weaker than rest of vessel” (Waugh p1)
By: Almost Scientific Staff
Researcher: Kaitlyn Arriaga
Citation
Citation
“Iron vs Steel Rivets -- Why the Titanic Sank.” Almost Scientific - Almost Scientific Investigations at the Intersection of Art and Science Regularly Conducted by Alan Rorie, www.almostscientific.com/2008/04/14/iron-vs-steel-rivets-why-the-titanic-sank/.
Abstract
Abstract
Some scientists think that they know why the Titanic sank, but they really know why it sank? I think it was the weak rivets that sank the ship. Rivets are short metal pins or bolts used for holding together two plates. Rivets have headless ends that are beaten out or pressed down when in placed.
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"The rivets on or in the Titanic were used to hold the ship together. If the Rivets were Steel they could have been stronger to hold the ship together. The workers could have also used more Rivets to hold the ship together."
"The wrought iron in the rivets contained three times today’s allowable amount of slag (the glassy residue left behind after the smelting of the iron ore). The slag made the rivets less ductile and more brittle than they should have been when exposed to very cold temperatures—like those typically found in the icy seawater of the North Atlantic."
By: Titanic Universe Staff
Researcher: Kaitlyn Arriaga
Citation
Citation
“Weak Rivets Might Have Caused the Titanic to Sink.” Titanic Universe RSS, www.titanicuniverse.com/weak-rivets-might-have-caused-the-titanic-to-sink/1108.
Abstract
Abstract
The Rivets may have been made of iron and were not strong enough to hold the ship together. If the Rivets were made up of Steel they could have strong enough to hold the ship together. If the workers used stronger Rivets for the ship instead of weak Rivets for the ship, the Titanic would have had more time Sink. Stronger Rivets would have gave the Titanic more time to sink and it would have given more people more time to evacuate.
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"According to the website weak Rivets could have caused the Titanic to sink. The Rivets that were placed into the Titanic were not strong enough to hold the whole ship together. The website stated that The workers had a lack of Rivets and Riveters."
By: David Usborne York
Researcher: Andrew Martinez
Reviser: Janny Sok
Citation
Citation
York, David Usborne in New. “Cheap Rivets Blamed for Massive Loss of Life as 'Titanic' Sank.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 22 Oct. 2011, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/cheap-rivets-blamed-for-massive-loss-of-life-as-titanic-sank-809622.html.
Abstract
Abstract
The sinking of the RMS Titanic has been disputed among scientists and historians alike since the very sinking of it over 100 years ago. All argue their own opinions in who to blame but recently scientists went from who to blame to what to blame. In 2008 rivets were pulled up from the underwater wreck and were found to be lower class rivets than originally imagined. Since the Titanic did have a limiting budget, supplies were in higher demand. The best type of rivets which were classified as “best best rivets” were to expensive and were only used on selected parts of the ship. The rivets fished up from the wreck were found to be one class lower in rivets called the “best rivets.” To put this into perspective the “best best rivets” were made out of steel while the “best rivets” were made out of iron. Steel as you may know is stronger than iron and more favorable in durability and effectiveness. If steel rivets were put in place instead of iron maybe the steel plates wouldn't have broken apart so easily causing the Titanic to sink slower. If the Titanic were to sink slower perhaps more lives could have been saved.
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"By the first part of the last century, other shipyards had mostly already switched to all-steel rivets. Although steel was used for the central sections of hull of the Titanic, the design called for iron rivets for bow and aft sections. Most of the cracks that opened after its collision with the iceberg were in the iron-riveted forward part of the hull" (York p5).
Iron Rivets
Iron Rivets
Steel Rivets
Steel Rivets
Citation
Citation
Pilkington, Ed. “Low-Grade Rivets Sank Titanic, Claim Scientists.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 15 Apr. 2008, www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/apr/16/usa
Abstract
Abstract
Scientists have many theories on what caused the titanic to sink on its maiden voyage. Scientists suggest that the reason the titanic to sink may be due second-rate rivets. Harland and Wolff was under a lot of pressure to secure enough iron to make 3m rivets and in the rush to beat their competition, Cunard, the White Star Line was supplied with vessel made of substandard materials. They say that there was a shortage of top quality iron and skills to make the rivets at the time of the titanic construction so they downgraded from No. 4 or “best-best” to No. 3 or “best”. The recovered rivets had a high level of slag resulting from smelting and when under high pressure can shatter. When the Titanic struck the iceberg many rivets along the starboard side popped flooding more compartments.
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‘McCarty told the New York Times: "The board was in crisis mode ... In every meeting it was: 'There are problems with the rivets and we need to hire more people’” (Pilkington p5).
“But so many of the rivets popped along the starboard side of the ship that a fifth compartment flooded, condemning the vessel to the depths and sending more than 1,500 people to their deaths” (Pilkington p9).
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