3-inch titanium pressure vessel clears crush tests down to full ocean depth rating

Southwest Research Institute tested a miniaturized 3-inch titanium pressure vessel for deep-sea use.

The Ti-6Al-4V vessel withstood the crushing pressures expected at full ocean depth.

The result supports smaller, lighter housings for oceanographic sensors and autonomous underwater vehicles.

Compact deep-sea designs could improve efficiency while still surviving extreme hydrostatic pressure.