Please direct all general questions about submarines, water pressure deep in the ocean, and similar questions to this sticky. Within this sticky, top-level questions (direct “replies” to me) should be questions, rather than explanations. The rules about off-topic discussion will be **somewhat** relaxed. Please keep in mind that all other rules – especially Rule 1: Be Civil – are still in effect.
Please also note: this is **not** a place to ask specific questions about the [recent submersible accident](https://www.npr.org/2023/06/22/1183661199/sub-titan-titanic-missing-search). The rule against recent or current events is still in effect, and is for general subjects, not specific instances with straightforward answers. General questions that reference the sub, such as “Why would a submarine implode like the one that just did that?” are fine; specific questions like, “What failed on this sub that made it implode?” are not.
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ELI5: rapid ascent/surfacing. Structures or vehicles are rated for given loads, and dynamic loads can exceed ratings quite easily. What about unloading of forces/pressure? If I were in a submarine, deep under water (say, 4km), and I popped the ballast tanks and triggered a rapid ascent to the surface, can the rapid **reduction** in pressure cause damage?
I know that for divers, rapid ascent can be lethal, but that’s entirely different to what we’re talking about (reduction in pressure causing spontaneous phase change in fluids in the body to gas). But my question is, is there a similar effect for submarines in terms of forces as a result of a sudden and massive decrease in pressure?
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