Evaluation of Whipple bumper shields at 7 and 10 km/s

Conference · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:5453425

Ang, J A; Chhabildas, L C ^[1]; Cour-Palais, B G ^[2]; Christiansen, E L; Crews, J L ^[3]

---

1. Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
2. McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co., Houston, TX (United States)
3. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Houston, TX (United States). Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

A series of experiments has been performed on the Sandia Hypervelocity Launcher to determine the performance limits of conventional Whipple shields against representative 0.8 g aluminum orbital debris plate-like fragments with velocities of 7 and 10 km/s. Supporting diagnostics include flash X-rays, high speed photography and transient digitizers for timing correlation. Two Whipple shield designs were tested with either a 0.030 cm or a 0.127 cm thick front sheet and a 0.407 cm thick backsheet separated by 30.5 cm. These two designs bracket the ballistic penetration limit curve for protection against these debris simulants for 7 km/s impacts. 7 refs.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5453425
• Report Number(s): SAND-91-1717C; CONF-920373--3; ON: DE92010663
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420200* -- Engineering-- Facilities
Equipment
& Techniques
420500 -- Engineering-- Materials Testing
ALUMINIUM
ELEMENTS
EVALUATION
IMPACT SHOCK
IMPACT TESTS
MATERIALS TESTING
MECHANICAL TESTS
METALS
PARTICLES
PERFORMANCE TESTING
SATELLITES
SHIELDING
SHIELDS
TESTING