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There are 2 hulls on every modern submarine; the outer hull, known as the superstructure, and the inner hull, known as the pressure hull. The best analogy is that it's like a thermos bottle, the only difference being that instead of air between the inner and outer portions, there's water.
The superstructure is essentially for streamlined submerged travel while underwater, and to house masts and other equipment (line lockers, cleats, MBT valves, topside under-ice sonar fairings, sonar arrays, etc.). The pressure hull on most boats isn't really designed for underwater travel so much as it is to house equipment and crew, and the design itself is spherical/cigar shaped to give it the best pressure resistance.
The inner pressure hull is where the main systems and crew reside. The hull for most boats (save for Russia and China, who use titanium and GRP) are made of durable, flexible steel that compresses and expands with changes in sea pressure as a boat moves through different depths. Hull penetrations from the inner to outer hull (valves, masts, etc.) are carefully inspected and tested before each major operation, and at intervals during the year. One method of sealing everything (or finding problems) is taking a boat to test depth, which is above the crush depth of a submarine. The sea pressure forces tight any seals that may be a bit loose.
Of course if there's something wrong, a catastrophic failure is also possible.
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What is the hull of a submarine?
The hull is the outer shell or the metal skin of the submarine that protects the inner area from the outside water.
What is a casing deck on a submarine?
A casing deck is another term for a submarine's superstructure hull, which is the outer hull that protects the inner pressure hull. Using a thermos bottle as an analogy, the inner container where liquid goes would be the pressure hull, and the outer case which protects it the superstructure, or outer hull.
What happens when a submarine reaches crush level?
When a boat reaches its crush depth limit, the inner pressure hull succumbs to the extreme outer sea pressure, causing the hull to implode.
Can water exert pressure on a submarine?
Yes, water exerts pressure on the hull of the submarine.
What happen if the hull of submarine ruptured?
All modern submarines are "dual hull" constructed. What you see on the surface is the outer hull, or "superstructure". The inner hull, where the main systems and crew are, is protected by the outer hull. Damage severity of either the outer or inner hulls depends on the boat's depth at the time. If deep enough, it doesn't take much damage to the hull, as sea pressure will be virtually unstoppable, even with the quick-reaction damage control skills of a submarine crew. However, if sea pressure isn't a factor and the flooding can be controlled, then it's possible to survive such a casualty. Again, it depends on the severity of the hull breach, and the depth at the time. Several modern submarines (my old boat included) have survived underwater collisions which produced severe damage.
Why might a submarine be crushed if it sinks too low in the ocean?
Submarine hulls are subject to sea pressure, and that pressure increases the deeper the submarine goes. There are design limits to the amount of pressure that a hull can take, and if that pressure is exceeded by diving too deep, the hull will fail and will be crushed.
Why does the strength of a submarine hull have to be stronger than the hull of a ship?
because if a submarine goes under water to deep levels, it needs to hold against the air pressure. Yes the person said above.. They have to have a MUCH higher ability to withstand the pressure of the water pushing in against the hull of it.
What was the purpose of the Titanic inner hull?
for safty features
Why if a submarine is submerged too low can it be destroyed?
Yes it can. Every submarine has a maximum depth at which it is safe to operate. If it goes lower than its safe limit, the pressure can crush the hull.
Why are submarines always built with very thick and heavy metal?
The pressure hull of a submarine must withstand the pressure of water at depth. Hundreds of pounds of pressure per square inch translates into many tons of pressure around a pressure hull. If that hull doesn't have the strength to stand up to this, the pressure hull will implode. Steel is a "known quantity" as far as metals. We've used it for a long time, and we have a good handle on its characteristics. Steel alloys are extremely strong, fairly easy to fabricate, and won't double the national debt if we use this metal to make a submarine pressure hull. Steel's weldability and its common availability make it a fine choice for submarine pressure hulls. It's really strong, too. That's a big plus. No one wants to be inside the pressure hull of a submarine when it fails.
What are pressure hulls on a submarine?
Submarines have 2 or more hulls - the superstructure, which is the visible external hull you see, and the inner pressure hull, which contains all the primary equipment and houses the crew. The space between the superstructure and the pressure hull is where the main ballast tanks are located, as well as line lockers, access/weapons hatches, etc. The pressure hull is where the crew lives and works (and keeps on working...). The primary reason there are 2 hulls is that the pressure hull, while optimally designed for maximum sea pressure resistance, isn't designed for optimum speed and maneuverability underwater. The superstructure, built over the pressure hull, streamlines the boat and compensates for this, making modern boats extremely fast and maneuverable underwater. The best analogy is a thermos bottle, which has an outer shell (the superstructure) that protects and insulates the inner thermal bottle (the pressure hull). The Russians are known to use a double-layered superstructure on their larger boats, the theory being to insulate the pressure hull from a torpedo attack. The problem with that theory is that modern torpedoes don't need much proximity to severely damage or sink submarine, and any significant damage
How does a submarines propeller shaft go through the hull and still leave the submarine watertight?
All submarine screw shafts have seals around the full length of the shaft hull penetration area to prevent water coming in. Shaft seals can be mechanical, hydraulic, etc., but regardless they serve the same purpose.
