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See "When acrylic aquariums fail", in Plastics World.[1] That article lists the major acrylic aquarium failures up to 2018. Since then, the AquaDom, listed in the article, failed.[2] Not the same problem, but does involve thick acrylic sections under water pressure. Acrylic does not come without drawbacks. The engineer needs to have full knowledge and understanding of these drawbacks to successfully design, manufacture and assemble an aquarium that will stand and support aquatic life for years. To ensure longevity, the typical large aquarium is designed with a factor of safety of 11 to 12. This may seem high, but when one considers the implications if one of these large aquariums were to fail, and the sudden, catastrophic event that occurs when they do fail, it becomes more understandable and acceptable. Unfortunately, aquariums have failed for various reasons, leading to tremendous damage, huge monetary losses and, at times, complete loss of the aquatic life. There have been high-profile public aquarium failures, which typically involve huge aquariums, as well as private aquarium failures that range from several hundred to thousands of gallons of water loss. Some common reasons why acrylic aquariums can fail include: - Poor bonding of acrylic panels creating a weak seam - improper installation - poor manufacturing of the acrylic panels, resulting in inferior strength and stiffness - residual stress molded or formed into the panel during manufacturing - introduction of large gouges or notches that can significantly increase stress in the panel Unfortunately, these issues commonly do not reveal themselves during inspection, assembly or the initial setup stages. Further, when the actual failure event does occur, which is typically months to years after installation, it is quick and catastrophic. The seam or crack opens nearly instantaneously without warning. The phenomenon behind this is called creep rupture—the disentanglement of the molecules of plastic over time, at a stress level significantly below the yield strength—yes, below the yield strength—of the plastic. [1] https://www.plasticstoday.com/materials/when-acrylic-aquariu... [2] https://www.newsweek.com/aquarium-explosion-hotel-aquadom-fi... |