The cargo ships that 'liquefy'

BBC ^ | 17 Sept 2018 | Susan Gourvenec

[DUMBGRUNT]

Solid cargoes like crushed ore or sand can suddenly turn to liquid… and cause the ship to sink. And the phenomenon happens more frequently than you might think...

Solid bulk cargoes are typically ‘two-phase’ materials as they contain water between the solid particles. When the particles can touch, the friction between them makes the material act like a solid (even though there is liquid present). But when the water pressure rises, these inter-particle forces reduce and the strength of the material decreases. When the friction is reduced to zero, the material acts like a liquid (even though the solid particles are still present)...

[IronJack]

The Fitz was carrying taconite — pellets of iron ore embedded in fused silica. I don’t know how there could be any liquefication of such a cargo.

[IronJack]

But that’s not what the article describes.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

I understand that the New Madrid Earthquake of 1811 caused the ground to "liquify" and many structures sank into it. This effect with the ships sounds similar.
 

[DUMBGRUNT]

Not my line of work, but with the earthquake, the soil behaves LIKE a fluid.

Under some conditions, the balk cargo (dry powder) in the hold of a ship BECOMES a liquid.

[oldplayer]

-—The Fitz was carrying taconite — pellets of iron ore embedded in fused silica.-—

Thanks for the details. Freepers always seem to know interesting facts that the media and the general public have no idea about.

[Ozark Tom]

Friction between dry particles at rest is higher than particles in sliding contact. Once solid materials are set in motion, continuance of the motion requires much less effort to sustain.

Water introduced under pressure of ground motion into consolidated particles, can exert sufficient pressure to separate the grains, eliminating the friction which previously held particles immobile.

[nonsporting]

The ships don’t liquify, the cargo does. . .yet another symptom of the deterioration of our education system. This is not just shoddy grammar, it is shoddy thinking.

No. It's a common figure of speech.

[Larry Lucido]

Your nice pile of ore can start moving side to side or front to back and cause the ship to capsize.

There's a lesson there for Guam.

[justa-hairyape]

Ship Cargo that Liquifies ?

Fixed it for the idiots.

[gspurlock]

Thanks. That doesn’t seem difficult at all.

[Sequoyah101]

Same sentiment here. Writing, education and knowledge these days are simply horrible.

Liquefaction of certain bulk cargos is widely known and understood for a long time.

[IronJack]

Actually, it’s not silica. It’s usually quartz or other naturally-occuring minerals.