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This question would have two parts:

1 - How to calculate thickness of a 1 square meter window made of acrylic in a submarine to endure 100meters of deepness in salt water?

I don't remember the procedure to calculate this, even If I have done it in the past during mechanical structure classes. So any help with the calculus, or from where to get the formulas, is appreciated.

2 - Roughly speaking, this is the same strength required for the material to endure the weight of a column of 100m tall and 1 square meter base of water? So, 100 Tons?

pfernandez
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The pressure at the depth of 100m is:

$$p=\rho*h=100*1024=102400kg/m^2=10.24atm$$ Assuming 1 atm pressure inside the cabine.

As per Roark’s Formulas for Stress and Strain WARREN C. YOUNG RICHARD G. BUDYNAS Seventh Ed. pp 502 ch. 11 table 11.4, for a square plate with free edge supports.

$\beta=0.2874 \ for\ square$

$q=pressure, \ p $

$t=thickness,\ \alpha= length$

$And\ deflection\ = Y$

$$\sigma_{ max \ center}=\frac{\beta* q*\alpha^2}{t^2} $$

$$Y_{max}=\frac{-q\alpha^5}{Et^3}$$

We need to have the datasheet on the acrylic to plug in E and allowable stress.

kamran
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