Handbook of Acrylics for Submersibles, Hyperbaric Chambers, and Aquaria by Dr. Jerry D. Stachiw, P.E., B.S., M.S., D.Ed This book is considered by many to be the most authoritative resource for viewports in submersibles, ever published. Engineers and designers involved in the research and development of acrylic plastic viewports, acrylic pressure hulls for submersibles and hyperbaric chambers and panels for aquaria will find this book both practical and illustrative. This fully documented design handbook is ideally suited for engineers, designers, operators, and inspectors of pressure vessels who need to know and understand the technology of viewport and hyperbaric chamber development. Particular emphasis is placed on the effect of dynamic, short-term, cyclic, and long-term pressure loading on the structural integrity of the acrylic window. In addition, the safety factors recommended for their design, to preclude catastrophic failure, are covered in a separate section on the ANSI/ASME PVHO Safety Standard. The book demonstrates in a practical, hand-on fashion the relationship between good engineering practices and uncompromised, safe acrylic viewports, hyperbaric chambers and aquaria. Materials, fabrication processes, distribution of stresses and strains in standard window shapes, critical pressures, bonding techniques, deterioration of acrylic material, and surface finishes are all discussed for the benefit of the designer. In addition, the designer, operator and/or inspector is made aware of how to care for acrylic in service and what things may harm or even destroy the usefulness of the acrylic. Using the information presented herein allows the engineer to design, fabricate and test numerous acrylic structures which will be safe, economical and long lasting. TABLE OF CONTENTS Section 1. The Quest for Underwater Vision Section 2. Introduction to Acrylic Plastic Section 3. Window Design Data Section 4. Structural Properties of Acrylic Section 5. Acrylic Aquaria Enclosures Section 6. Pressure-Resistant Windows Section 7. Plane Disc Windows Section 8. Plane Rectangular Windows Section 9. Conical Frustum Windows Section 10. Twin Beveled Windows Section 11. Spherical Sector Windows Section 12. Spherical Pressure Hulls Section 13. Cylindrical Windows Section 14. Illumination of Vessel Interiors Section 15. Stress Relieving Processes Section 16. Joining Acrylic Components Section 17. Effect of Submersion in Water Section 18. Crazing Section 19. Deterioration in Service Section 20. Optical Characteristics Section 21. Safety Standards