The document analyzes the failure of the Titanic, beginning with a brief history of its construction and sinking in 1912 after hitting an iceberg. It then discusses several reasons for the Titanic's failure, including its high speed through icy waters, the late detection of the iceberg, lack of lifeboats, and flaws in the steel and design. Specifically, the steel used in the Titanic had a higher ductile-to-brittle transition temperature than modern steel, causing it to fracture rather than bend when hit by the iceberg in cold waters. While better steel and an alternative design without compartments may have prevented the sinking, the engineering mistakes ultimately led to the Titanic's demise and over 1500 casualties.