[Goose]

Three key materials used - titanium, carbon filaments and the viewport- all react differently when compressed.

IMO this was the inherent "fatal flaw" in the design that could not be overcome by engineering. The carbon fiber cylinder may have indeed failed due to water intrusion de-laminating it, but at least in theory that is an effect that could be "engineered out" of the design. The differential compression characteristics of three major parts of the vessel could not. They are inherent characteristics of the materials that can't be changed. Eventually, the junctions of these different materials will fail, one way or another. This may manifest itself as a total failure of one side of the structure, like the viewport shattering, but it would be the differential pressure due to different compression coefficients that would cause it.

[Goose]

Three key materials used - titanium, carbon filaments and the viewport- all react differently when compressed.

IMO this was the inherent "fatal flaw" in the design that could not be overcome by engineering. The carbon fiber cylinder may have indeed failed due to water intrusion de-laminating it, but at least in theory that is an effect that could be "engineered out" of the design. The differential compression characteristics of three major parts of the vessel could not. They are inherent characteristics of the materials that can't be changed. Eventually, the junctions of these different materials will fail, one way or another. This may manifest itself as a total failure of one side of the structure, like the viewport shattering, but it would be the differential pressure due to different compression coefficients that would cause it.