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

Conference · Tue Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:10137813

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

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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: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 10137813
• Report Number(s): SAND-91-1717C; CONF-920373-3; ON: DE92010663
• Resource Relation: Conference: American Institute of Astronautics and Aeronautics (AIAA) space programs and technologies conference,Huntsville, AL (United States),24-27 Mar 1992; Other Information: PBD: [1991]
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
SHIELDS
IMPACT TESTS
SATELLITES
SHIELDING
ALUMINIUM
EVALUATION
TESTING
PERFORMANCE TESTING
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IMPACT SHOCK
420200
420500
FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT, AND TECHNIQUES
MATERIALS TESTING