After watching the folder of videos on the Hindenburg disaster, and drawing on your knowledge from other lectures and readings (as well as additional information you can look up) please answer the following in your response on Blackboard by Wednesday, March 17th:
- Analyze the causes of failure in the case of the Hindenburg disaster (materials/human/design/poor maintenance/extreme conditions). Which causes were most important? Defend your answer with specific arguments. (at least 350 words)
- Airships are still being built — new ones are being used for drones, research, commercial advertising, movement of goods, and for transportation. But they are designed quite differently (there was a slide with a picture of one in one the lectures). How are current airships different from historical airships, in terms of materials and design? Describe how understanding the causes of failure of the Hindenburg (and similar ones, such as the failure of the airships Macon or Shenandoah) are helping engineers to create better designs. (at least 250 words) Include an image of a modern design (last few years).
- Pick one of the types of materials analysis techniques discussed in the videos, and explain how it could be used to help engineers determine the cause of failure in another case (either hypothetical or a real case you look up). What sort of information can it provide? (at least 200 words)
Note: Please try to add an image or two to your answer – and be sure to include any and all references you used in your responses.
Link to all the videos
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1b7ox9Mi3p83vwL8eweUr1OWauZDyeJWv?usp=sharing