Interaction between hypervelocity elongated projectile and screen protection of space vehicles

• Published in: Acta astronautica Vol. 163; pp. 73 - 78
• Main Authors: Rumyantsev, B.V., Guk, I.V., Kozachuk, A.I., Mikhaylin, A.I., Pavlov, S.I., Silnikov, M.V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-10-2019
• Subjects: Evaporation; Man-made debris; Melting; Screen protection of space vehicles; Shaped charge jet; Unloading adiabat; Screen protection of space vehicles; Shaped charge jet; Melting; Evaporation; Unloading adiabat; Man-made debris
• ISSN: 0094-5765; 1879-2030
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2019.03.065

In the article, we study the efficiency of screen protection of space vehicles against hypervelocity elongated projectiles that are an analog of the most dangerous space debris. We analyze the kinetics of an elongated projectile penetration into a target after the projectile passes through screen protection. Parameters of an elongated projectile impact with copper and aluminum screens and a state of a cavern surface formed as a result of projectile penetration into metal target have been found. Rapid unloading of the penetration zone, the emergence of pores in the volume of the projectile material before their destruction in a jet flow region can explain the increase of efficiency of screen protection when evaporating space junk.
•Copper screens are the most effective in dispersion of hypervelocity projectile.•The dispersion efficiency depends on the pressure in the penetration zone.•Rapid unloading in the penetration zone explains increasing dispersion efficiency.•The penetration delay are due to radial collapse of the evaporating materials.