Objective This study aims to investigate the shock load characteristics during implosion and the thermodynamic response mechanisms of a ceramic pressure hull in the extreme deep-sea environment. A numerical simulation method for the implosion of a deep-sea ceramic pressure hull is proposed using a compressible multiphase flow model that ensures pressure-velocity-temperature equilibrium and adaptive mesh refinement (AMR).

Methods The proposed method enables accurate prediction of shock waves and precise capture of the flow field. Then, underwater implosion experiments of the ceramic pressure hull are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the numerical method. Finally, a numerical study on the implosion of a ceramic pressure hull at a depth of 10 000 m reveals the characteristics of the shock load and thermal effects during implosion. The implosion of a deep-sea ceramic pressure hull at different water depths and temperatures is studied numerically, and the effects of these factors are analyzed.

Results The implosion of a deep-sea ceramic pressure hull releases shock waves outward and produces a significant thermal effect when the gas is highly compressed. As the ambient pressure increases, the peak overpressure of the implosion shock wave decreases, and the shock wave attenuation rate increases. However, the ambient water temperature has little effect on the implosion characteristics of the ceramic pressure hull.

Conclusion This study provides insights into the implosion characteristics of deep-sea ceramic pressure hull, offering valuable theoretical insights and engineering implications for the assessment and mitigation of underwater implosion effects.