Whipple bumper shield results and CTH simulations at velocities in excess of 10 km/s
A series of experiments has been performed on the Sandia HyperVelocity Launcher (HVL) to evaluate the effectiveness of a Whipple bumper shield to orbital space debris at impact velocities in excess of 10 km/s. Upon impact by a 0.67 g (0.87 mm thick) flier plate, the thin aluminum bumper shield disintegrates into a debris cloud. The debris cloud front propagates axially at velocities of [approximately]14 km/s and expands radially at a velocity of [approximately]7 km/s. Subsequent loading on a 3.2 mm thick aluminum substructure by the debris penetrates the substructure completely. However, when the mass of the flier plate is reduced to 0.33 g, the substructure, although damaged, is not perforated over the duration of the experiment. Numerical simulations performed using the multi-dimensional hydrodynamics code CTH also predict complete penetration of the substructure by the subsequent debris cloud for a 0.87 g flier plate. The numerical simulations for a 0.33 g flier plate show a strong dependence on assumed impact geometry. For the assumption of a spherical projectile impact geometry, perforation of the substructure by the subsequent debris cloud is not predicted by CTH.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 6792964
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-91-2683; ON: DE93006932
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Hypervelocity impact tests and simulations of single Whipple bumper shield concepts at 10 km/s
Hypervelocity impact tests and simulations of single Whipple bumper shield concepts at 10 km/s
Related Subjects
ALUMINIUM
MATERIALS TESTING
HYDRODYNAMICS
C CODES
SATELLITES
SHIELDING
SPACE VEHICLES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DEFORMATION
IMPACT SHOCK
IMPACT TESTS
PLATES
PROJECTILES
SHOCK WAVES
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
VELOCITY
COMPUTER CODES
ELEMENTS
FLUID MECHANICS
MECHANICAL TESTS
MECHANICS
METALS
SIMULATION
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VEHICLES
420200* - Engineering- Facilities
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420500 - Engineering- Materials Testing