Originally Posted by
Discorde
I seem to recall that the Comet's designer, Ronald Bishop, was reported as difficult to work with and intolerant of criticism or is that an unfair or inaccurate malignment? Is it true that some engineers questioned the light gauge of the aircraft skin and the square window design in a pressurised hull? The increase of stresses at sharp corners had been known about for many years.
(1) A great many senior people throughout the history of aviation have been reported as "difficult to work with and intolerant of criticism", hence CRM !
(2) Engineers generally communicate by criticising each other's work - so I'd be amazed if somebody hadn't asked those questions, along with lots of others.
Yes, increased stresses at corners were known. The impact of cyclic stresses in a pressure hull, relatively speaking, weren't however.
G