Which structural risk increased when iron replaced wood in 19th-century ship hulls experiencing hogging forces in heavy seas?

💡 Explanation

When iron replaced wood, susceptibility to brittle fracture increased because iron lacks wood's elasticity, leading to catastrophic hull failure under hogging forces. Therefore brittle fracture is the greatest risk, rather than corrosion, elasticity changes, or biofouling, which were different material-related concerns.

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