A thermodynamic analysis of hypervelocity impacts on metals

Journal Article · Mon Jun 08 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · International Journal of Impact Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2020.103645· OSTI ID:1851371

Nuttall, Andrew ^[1]; Close, Sigrid ^[2]

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1. Stanford Univ., CA (United States); Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
2. Stanford Univ., CA (United States)

Hypervelocity impacts on solid surfaces generate and propagate shock waves and create extreme density, pressure, and temperature conditions. Understanding hypervelocity impacts requires a multi-physics approach at the intersection of fluid dynamics, solid mechanics, and quantum theory, which has the capability of spanning multiple different dominating physics regimes. These strong shock conditions found in hypervelocity impacts are studied in the context of high-speed collisions between spacecraft and meteoroids and debris. We study the problem of hypervelocity impacts on metals with the lens of understanding the processes that lead to the creation of an impact generated plasma. In order to characterize the impacting particle as well as its threat to spacecraft from the subsequent radiating plasma an analysis was performed that highlights how the kinetic energy of the impactor is deposited into a target, how the shock wave and shocked material in the target evolve, and how these effects can lead towards the creation of an impact plasma through heating. The analysis suggests that at low velocities the majority of the energy from a hypervelocity impact is stored in reversible elastic energy and does not contribute to strong heating. At higher impact velocities, nucleus and electron thermal components dominate, increasing the energy available for ionization. Overall, this work provides the complete set of state variable initial conditions for any study of hypervelocity impact plasma expansion and its effects.

• Research Organization: Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0010390
• OSTI ID: 1851371
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1634876
• Journal Information: International Journal of Impact Engineering, Journal Name: International Journal of Impact Engineering Journal Issue: C Vol. 144; ISSN 0734-743X
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
Engineering
Hypervelocity impacts
Mechanics
Meteoroids
Plasma
Space debris