A series of experiments has been performed on the Sandia HyperVelocity Launcher (HVL) to evaluate the effectiveness of thin Whipple bumper shield at impact velocities up to 10.4 km/s by orbital space debris. Upon impact by a 0.67 gm (0.87 mm thick) flier plate, the thin aluminum bumper shield completely 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. Numerical simulations performed using the multi-dimensional hydrodynamics code CTH also predict complete penetration of the substructure by the subsequent debris cloud. 7 refs., 4 figs.


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    Title :

    Experimental and numerical simulations of orbital debris impact on a simple Whipple bumper shield


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    1991


    Size :

    7 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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