why do ships have circular windows instead of square ones?

in STEMGeeks3 years ago

The reason is shapes with square corners are structurally weaker because the corners or square windows are a place where stress can build up. Arcs and circles are considerably stronger because they are better at distributing forces equally. If port holes were square, they would get worm out rather quickly.

StLouisPorthole.jpg
source https://rb.gy/a8d8ou

One of the earliest commercial plane called de Havilland Comet crashed more than once until they figured out that the square windows were the weak point.

555px-Design_Studies_for_the_DH_106_Comet.jpg
source https://rebrand.ly/06gw0gs