Modeling Hypervelocity-Impact-Induced Shock Waves for Characterizing Orbital Debris-Produced Damage

Abstract

Hypervelocity impact (HVI) is a scenario involving an impacting velocity in excess of 1 km/s. Ubiquitous in outer space, paradigms of HVI are typified by the collision between orbital debris and spacecraft. HVI features transient, localized, and extreme material deformation under which the induced acoustic emission (AE) signals present unique yet complex features. A dedicated modeling and numerical simulation approach, based on the three-dimensional smooth-particle hydrodynamics (SPH), was developed to gain an insight into characteristics of HVI-induced AE propagation. With the approach, both normal and oblique HVI scenarios were interrogated, and material failure in both cases was predicted. The coincidence in results between simulation and HVI experiment, as observed at a qualitative degree, has demonstrated the effectiveness of the modeling. Signal analysis shows that the shock wave converts to Lamb wave quickly as propagation from HVI spot, with the zeroth-order symmetric wave mode (S0) (i.e., the first-arrival wave) dominating wave signal energy. S0 is observed dispersive in a wide frequency range with majority of it below 1 MHz. In comparison, the antisymmetric wave mode distributes in a range below 200 kHz with a peak value at 30 kHz. S0 was employed to pinpoint the location of HVI, using an enhanced delay-and-sum-based diagnostic imaging algorithm, which was validated by locating orbital debris-induced orifice in space structures, showing precise identification results.

Proof of concept for a smart composite orbital debris detector

“…Indeed, in accordance with both numerical and experimental evidence reported by Liu et al [4], [5] and Burchell et al [16], [17], elastic modes recorded during low-velocity impacts resemble those generated after shock waves during HVIs. In particular, after HVI occurrence, pressure-induced shock 9 waves are immediately converted into standard elastic modes due to wave attenuation and diffraction distance [5].…”

“…In Low Earth Orbit (LEO), space debris speeds are typically around 7 -10 km/s [3] and impacts at these velocities are commonly referred to as "hypervelocity impacts" (HVIs). In HVIs, the impact speed is such that the strength of materials upon impact is sufficiently small compared to their inertial forces [4], [5]. As a result, high impact energies are achieved even with small particles having dimensions ranging between 10 m and few mm, which are sufficient to harm the orbiting spacecraft.…”

“…Regarding to the elastic wave propagation in solids after HVIs, Liu et al [4], [5] demonstrated that HVI-induced shock waves generated at the impact spot convert rapidly into standard elastic waves.…”

Characterizing hypervelocity (>2.5 km/s)-impact-engendered damage in shielding structures using in-situ acoustic emission: Simulation and experiment

“…In the algorithm, assuming the HVI spot is at point (y, z) on the outer layer of the shielding assembly, the time delay in the arrival of the first-arrival wave (i.e., S0, as interpreted earlier) captured with any two PZT sensors of the sensor network ((Pi (i = 0, 1, 2, …, 6))), say Pi at (yi, zi) and Pj at (yj, zj), can be expressed as [41] 32…”

Atomistic Simulations on Metal Rod Penetrating Thin Target at Nanoscale Caused by High-Speed Collision

“…The simplified rigid body assumption, thus, is not enough to deepen the understanding of related deformation mechanism and intrinsic physical law. In practice, the hypervelocity impact process is a kind of mechanical, physical and chemical coupling problem [5] involving elastic-plastic deformation, shock waves, heat effect and damage evolution, etc., leading to great difficulty in the traditional experimental and numerical simulation methods [6,7]. It is still challenging to trace the real-time detail of damage and fragmentation process for the state-of-the-art experimental technology due to its tiny spatial and temporal scale and extreme high temperature and pressure ambient.…”