Military craft hang out around 980 feet below the surface, and manned research vessels regularly go as low as 14,700 feet. In contrast, the average submersible doesn’t dive nearly that deep into the ocean. For reference, the atmospheric pressure in the average home is approximately 14.7 PSI. At the lowest point in the ocean, atmospheric pressure exceeds 16,000 pounds per square inch. The pressure of the water is exerted on all sides of the submarine, increasing with depth. Submarine seals are designed to help maintain internal pressure and withstand the external pressure of the water surrounding the submersible. At its lowest point, the craft reached depths between 35,000 and 36,000 feet. Trieste, a Swiss designed, Italian built submersible was the first manned vessel to brave the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench in 1960. The pressure at these depths is much greater than the pressure at the surface. Submarines can dive to depths of hundreds or thousands of feet below the surface of the water. Modern submarine seals are designed for the unique challenges of the ocean, so they are created to be resistant to vibration, corrosion, pressure, and shock. Engineers are always working to improve seal technology so that leaks aren’t a concern in any application. Considering the fact that submarines can stay underwater continuously as long as the crew doesn’t need to come up for supplies (up to three months in some cases), it’s obvious why reliable, durable seals are vital to maintaining the structure and function of submarines.Ī small leak can quickly turn into a big problem underwater, so ensuring the efficacy of all the seals onboard is a top priority. Without good seals, submarines would be unable to stay afloat or be submerged. Seals are essential to keeping submarines and submersibles air- and water-tight.
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