Studies for a Dual Element Meteoroid Shield Structure (2nd Report)

Abstract

Using the PISCES-2DELK code, the hypervelocity impact phenomena of a spherical projectile of steel or polycrystalline spinel to a 2024-T3 aluminum alloy plate were investigated. Debris cloud characteristics predicted by the hydrocode were compared with experimental results. The impact with velocity of 4km/s produced a debris cloud, consisting mainly of solid and partly of liquid. When the projectile is incompletely shattered to fine particles and the velocity vectors of them are little laterally dispersed, the coarse particles act as a concentrated load on the mainwall. The plastic flow and breakup behaviors of a projectile and a target plate at the initial penetration stage are also discussed using the ratio of internal energy to kinetic energy.