球形弹丸超高速斜撞击薄板的碎片云和侵彻特征仿真分析

低地球轨道航天器易受到微流星体及空间碎片的超高速撞击。相较于正撞击,斜撞击现象更加普遍、更具研究价值。文章采用Autodyn-3D数值模拟软件,利用光滑粒子流体动力学（smooth particle hydrodynamics, SPH）方法,模拟Al2017-T4球形弹丸超高速斜撞击Al2A12薄板的过程,开展弹丸撞击速度为3～6 km/s、撞击角度为0°～60°时的撞击特征仿真分析。结果表明:撞击角度对碎片云形貌与几何尺寸,以及穿孔大小和形状特征有显著影响;当撞击角度为30°～45°时会发生滑弹反溅现象,造成弹丸侵彻能力下降。研究结果可为超高速撞击防护结构的设计和改进提供支持。     

Hypervelocity impact testing of advanced materials and structures for micrometeoroid and orbital debris shielding

A series of 66 hypervelocity impact experiments have been performed to assess the potential of various materials (aluminium, titanium, copper, stainless steel, nickel, nickel/chromium, reticulated vitreous carbon, silver, ceramic, aramid, ceramic glass, and carbon fibre) and structures (monolithic plates, open-cell foam, flexible fabrics, rigid meshes) for micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) shielding. Arranged in various single-, double-, and triple-bumper configurations, screening tests were performed with 0.3175 cm diameter Al2017-T4 spherical projectiles at nominally 6.8 km/s and normal incidence. The top performing shields were identified through target damage assessments and their respective weight. The top performing candidate shield at the screening test condition was found to be a double-bumper configuration with a 0.25 mm thick Al3003 outer bumper, 6.35 mm thick 40 PPI aluminium foam inner bumper, and 1.016 mm thick Al2024-T3 rear wall (equal spacing between bumpers and rear wall). In general, double-bumper candidates with aluminium plate outer bumpers and foam inner bumpers were consistently found to be amongst the top performers. For this impact condition, potential weight savings of at least 47% over conventional all-aluminium Whipple shields are possible by utilizing the investigated materials and structures. The results of this study identify materials and structures of interest for further, more in-depth, impact investigations.     

弹丸正撞击Whipple防护结构后墙的穿孔孔径研究

微流星体及空间碎片的超高速撞击对在轨航天器,特别是长期留轨的栽人航天器构成了严重的威胁,甚至可导致灾难性失效,为此航天器采用了各种Whipple类防护方案以提高其在轨生存能力。穿孔孔径是研究弹丸超高速撞击下航天器舱壁撞击损伤的重要参数之一。文章对目前所建立的Burch损伤经验公式与Schonberg—Williamsen穿孔经验公式进行了研究,比较了其各自特点;同时,基于上述模型提出了适用范围更广的弹丸超高速正撞击Whipple防护结构后墙的穿孔孔径经验公式,为航天器的灾难性失效分析提供有效的工具。     

圆柱体弹丸超高速斜撞击薄板的碎片云特征仿真分析

为研究圆柱体弹丸超高速撞击薄板的碎片云特征,基于仿真软件AUTODYN-3D的光滑粒子流体动力学（SPH）方法,模拟圆柱体弹丸不同长径比、不同攻角条件下超高速撞击薄板的过程。设圆柱体弹丸撞击速度为5 km/s,长径比分别为0.5、1.0、2.0、4.0,攻角为15°～75°,数值模拟结果分析表明:圆柱体弹丸超高速斜撞击薄板形成的碎片云中,大部分是小质量碎片;大碎片的质量和动能占比较大,是造成后墙损伤的主要原因。同时,当弹丸长径比为0.5和1.0时,15°攻角下的碎片云侵彻能力最弱;长径比为2.0和4.0时,75°攻角下的碎片云侵彻能力最弱。研究结果可为航天器防护结构设计优化提供参考。     

超高速撞击下PTFE/Al含能材料薄板的载荷特性分析

不同于传统惰性材料的空间碎片防护结构,含能材料防护结构在超高速撞击下的冲击起爆特性是其防护能力得以提高的根本原因。PTFE/Al含能材料防护结构的冲击起爆特性改变了弹丸强冲击载荷下的破碎机制,弹丸内部的冲击压力对于分析含能材料在超高速撞击下的防护机理具有重要意义。对超高速撞击试验中回收的PTFE/Al防护结构后板进行损伤特性分析,获得了对应速度条件下弹丸的破碎特性。基于一维冲击波理论,分析PTFE/Al靶板在超高速撞击条件下的冲击响应过程,结合考虑化学反应效率的热化学反应模型,获得了弹丸在碰撞与爆炸联合作用下的载荷特性,通过与试验结果对比验证,获得该材料完全反应的临界撞击速度约为1800 m/s,弹丸的临界破碎速度为2875 m/s,小于铝防护结构中对应的临界破碎速度。给出了弹丸在PTFE/Al、铝两种防护结构中产生相同冲击压力时对应的临界速度,分别为弹道段的800 m/s和破碎段的3580 m/s。     

Optical orbital debris spotter

The number of man-made debris objects orbiting the Earth, or orbital debris, is alarmingly increasing, resulting in the increased probability of degradation, damage, or destruction of operating spacecraft. In part, small objects (<10 cm) in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) are of concern because they are abundant and difficult to track or even to detect on a routine basis. Due to the increasing debris population it is reasonable to assume that improved capabilities for on-orbit damage attribution, in addition to increased capabilities to detect and track small objects are needed. Here we present a sensor concept to detect small debris with sizes between approximately 1.0 and 0.01 cm in the vicinity of a host spacecraft for near real time damage attribution and characterization of dense debris fields and potentially to provide additional data to existing debris models.     

Debris area distribution of spacecraft under hypervelocity impact

Cross-sectional area is an important parameter for spacecraft breakup debris as it is the directly measured data in space observation. It is significant for observing and analysing the spacecraft breakup event to accurately modelling the area distribution of the breakup debris. In this paper, experimental study has been performed on debris area distribution characteristics of spacecraft under hypervelocity impact. The tests are carried out at the ballistic ranges of CARDC. Aluminium projectiles are launched to normally impact the simulated spacecrafts at about 3.0 km/s. The simulated spacecrafts are made up of aluminium plates, filled with some simulated electronics boxes, each of which was installed with a circuit board. “Soft-catch” devices are used to recover the breakup fragments. The test results show that: 1) the relationship between the cross-sectional area and the characteristic length of debris, which can be obtained in the logarithmic coordinates by linear fitting, represents the debris shape characteristic in a certain extent; 2) the area-to-mass ratios of fragments show normal distributions in the logarithmic coordinates; 3) debris made of different materials can be distinguished by different peaks on the distribution curves; 4) the area-to-mass ratio distributions can be expressed by a linear superimposition of several normal functions which represent the main materials of the spacecraft.     

铝合金平板超高速撞击声发射信号S2模态特征分析

对铝合金平板上形成的超高速撞击(HVI)声发射(AE)信号S2模态的特征进行研究,分析其与损伤模式之间的关系。以3 mm厚5A06铝合金平板为研究对象,通过数值仿真获得不同撞击工况下的超高速撞击声发射信号,提取信号中的S2模态,并分析其幅值、能量、频谱等特征。结果表明,S2模态能量随传播距离呈指数衰减;分别随撞击弹丸直径和撞击速度的增加先下降后上升,且在弹丸直径与靶板厚度相近、临界撞击速度时最低。S2模态的中心频率随弹丸直径的增加而降低;随撞击速度的增加而增加;随传播距离的增加向1500 kHz移动。S2模态小波包系数呈凹性的频域范围分别随撞击速度和弹丸直径的增大变窄。在此基础上,当靶板形成穿孔损伤时,可根据S2模态的中心频率推测弹丸的直径;在传播距离和弹丸直径已知的前提下,可根据S2模态小波包系数呈凹性的频域范围推测撞击速度。     

Conceptual design of a hypervelocity asteroid intercept vehicle (HAIV) and its flight validation mission

An intercept mission with nuclear explosives is the most effective of the practical mitigation options against the impact threat of near-Earth objects (NEOs) with a short warning time (e.g., much less than 10 years). The existing penetrated subsurface nuclear explosion technology limits the intercept velocity to less than approximately 300 m/s. Consequently, an innovative concept of blending a hypervelocity kinetic impactor with a subsurface nuclear explosion has been developed for optimal penetration, fragmentation, and dispersion of the target NEO. A proposed hypervelocity asteroid intercept vehicle (HAIV) consists of a kinetic-impact leader spacecraft and a follower spacecraft carrying nuclear explosives. This paper describes the conceptual development and design of a baseline HAIV system and its flight validation mission architecture for three mission cost classifications (e.g., $500 M, $1 B, and $1.5 B).     

铝合金弹丸超高速撞击玄武岩纤维布损伤分析

高强度、高模量纤维防护材料是航天器空间碎片超高速撞击防护结构材料的发展趋势之一。开展弹丸超高速撞击高强纤维材料时的损伤分析是空间碎片防护结构研究开发设计的重要环节。玄武岩纤维是近年来受到人们关注的一种高强度、高模量纤维。文章对铝合金弹丸超高速撞击玄武岩纤维布的损伤特性进行了分析研究,观察到了弹丸前部的损伤形态。根据试验结果拟合得到了铝合金弹丸后部产生初始破坏的临界破碎速度方程。分析表明:在试验范围内,铝合金弹丸撞击玄武岩纤维布的临界破碎速度低于撞击铝合金板的,即玄武岩纤维布对铝合金弹丸的破碎能力优于铝合金板。     

弹丸正撞击Whipple防护结构后墙的撞击载荷分析

文章为了分析超高速弹丸对Whipple防护结构后墙的撞击损伤,利用质量守恒、动量守恒及能量守恒等分析了碎片云运动特性,在此基础上构造了碎片云对Whipple防护结构后墙的法向撞击载荷函数,为进一步分析弹丸超高速正撞击Whipple防护结构后其后墙的裂纹长度提供了有效的分析工具。     

空间碎片撞击气瓶穿孔孔径预测公式研究

星上压力容器中储存有高压气体或液体,在受到空间碎片和微流星体超高速撞击时可能发生灾难性事故。文章采用均匀实验设计方法对星上常用高压气瓶的超高速撞击仿真方案进行了试验设计,并通过LS-DYNA仿真软件对其进行了超高速撞击数值仿真,获取了不同参数的弹丸撞击气瓶时气瓶器壁穿孔孔径。通过对器壁穿孔孔径的数据拟合,建立了无防护情况下气瓶器壁的穿孔孔径预测公式。与试验结果对比表明,建立的穿孔孔径预测公式具有一定的预测精度。     

超高速撞击中靶后碎片云的内外边界方程研究

研究超高速撞击防护靶形成的碎片云的形状模型对航天器防护结构设计具有重要意义。文章用数值仿真的方法研究靶后碎片云的内外边界模型:将碎片云根据其材料来源分为靶板碎片云和弹丸碎片云,分别根据各碎片云的分布特点建立碎片云形状的内外边界方程;在双纽线边界方程的基础上,修正为由双纽线方程和圆弧方程组成的边界方程。对比整体碎片云的适用率表明,由双纽线方程和圆弧方程组成的边界方程比单一的双纽线边界方程描述碎片云实际分布更为贴合。     

极轨航天器多层外表面充放电效应试验研究

利用空间带电粒子辐照试验台进行了太阳同步轨道航天器多层组件表面充放电试验,研究了常规与导电型(带ITO镀层)两种Kapton/Al薄膜在受到带电粒子辐照后的充放电情况和外观变化情况。试验结果表明,对于在近极地轨道运行的航天器,带ITO镀层的导电型Kapton/Al薄膜能够有效释放电荷、降低多层组件外表面对航天器地的电位差,本身不会形成放电损伤,比常规Kapton/Al薄膜更适合作为航天器多层外表面热控涂层。     

Debris dispersion effect in N-shape configuration

Spacecraft shields play an important role in shielding against the impact of space debris. Increasing the dispersion degree of the debris produced by the impact of the space debris on the bumper of configuration is able to lower the concentration of debris impacting on the rear plate and thus to reduce the risk of debris perforating the rear plate. In order to improve the dispersion degree, the N-shape configuration is proposed and studied by hypervelocity impact test with the velocity of 4.80 km/s and numerical simulation with the velocities ranging from 3.0 km/s to 7.0 km/s. As a comparison, the distribution of debris impacting on the rear plate is also investigated for the parallel triple-wall configuration with the same areal density. It is found that this degree is increased in the N-shape configuration due to the oblique plate, and therefore the risk of debris perforating the rear plate is reduced compared to the case of parallel triple-wall configuration.     

超高速撞击中的弹丸形状效应数值模拟研究

文章用AUTODYN仿真软件对球形、圆锥形、圆柱形和盘形4种不同形状弹丸超高速撞击Whipple防护结构所产生的碎片云形貌特征及对后墙的毁伤程度进行了数值仿真研究。对比分析结果指出:质量与速度相等的4种不同形状弹丸撞击缓冲屏所产生的碎片云有明显差异;弹丸长径比越小,穿过缓冲屏后的破碎程度越大;在5 km/s撞击速度下,球形弹丸对后墙的毁伤程度最小,而圆柱形弹丸的毁伤程度最大。这说明弹丸的形状对超高速撞击结果有显著影响,在航天器超高速撞击风险评估和防护工程设计中应充分考虑弹丸的形状效应。球形弹丸的弹道极限曲线在防护结构的碎片防护能力评价时存在高估的问题,在实际工作中要特别注意这一点。     

Optimal nodal flyby with near-Earth asteroids using electric sail

The aim of this paper is to quantify the performance of an Electric Solar Wind Sail for accomplishing flyby missions toward one of the two orbital nodes of a near-Earth asteroid. Assuming a simplified, two-dimensional mission scenario, a preliminary mission analysis has been conducted involving the whole known population of those asteroids at the beginning of the 2013 year. The analysis of each mission scenario has been performed within an optimal framework, by calculating the minimum-time trajectory required to reach each orbital node of the target asteroid. A considerable amount of simulation data have been collected, using the spacecraft characteristic acceleration as a parameter to quantify the Electric Solar Wind Sail propulsive performance. The minimum time trajectory exhibits a different structure, which may or may not include a solar wind assist maneuver, depending both on the Sun-node distance and the value of the spacecraft characteristic acceleration. Simulations show that over 60% of near-Earth asteroids can be reached with a total mission time less than 100 days, whereas the entire population can be reached in less than 10 months with a spacecraft characteristic acceleration of 1 mm/s².     

基于声发射的单层铝板高速撞击损伤类型识别

针对基于声发射技术的在轨航天器遭受空间碎片撞击损伤的评估问题,采用AUTODYN软件进行了弹丸超高速正撞击铝板所产生声发射波动信号的数值模拟,给出了二维模拟结果;对所得到的声发射信号进行小波重构,得到低频和高频部分的信号。通过研究低频和高频信号的峰值变化,发现第一和第二峰值幅度与撞击速度的变化具有一定的规律性,通过低频第二峰值幅度与第一峰值幅度比值将高速撞击损伤模式分为成坑、锥形穿孔和圆柱形穿孔三种类型。
     

Going to Alpha Centauri B and setting up a Radio Bridge

How to exploit the Sun as a gravitational lens has been studied extensively during the last 20 years, especially by this author (Refs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7). In essence, a spacecraft dubbed FOCAL (an acronym for “Fast Outgoing Cyclopean Astronomical Lens”) should be launched in the direction of the sky opposite to the area of the sky we wish to see highly magnified both at radio and other frequencies. After FOCAL reached the minimal focal distance of 550 AU from the Sun, highly magnified radio images of celestial objects located on the opposite side of the Sun will automatically be produced. In this paper we apply the FOCAL mission concept to the goal of exploring the neighborhood of the Alpha Centauri B star, where the nearest exoplanet to the Solar system was recently discovered. We suggest that:     

Near-Equatorial Electrons as Measured onboard the MirSpace Station

Some results of studying the electrons with energies of tens to hundreds of keV at the low and near- equatorial geomagnetic latitudes by using the instruments Sprut-V and Ryabina-2 onboard the Mirspace station in 1991 are presented. It is found that at L< 1.2 the enhanced electron fluxes are sporadically detected, being localized within three longitudinal intervals, 180° W–0°–15° E, 90°– 120° E, and 160° E–180°–135° W. The most intense electron fluxes are observed at the lower edge of the near-equatorial boundary of the inner radiation belt on longitudes of the South Atlantic Anomaly between 14 and 20 h MLT. The occurrence of electron bursts does not depend on the geomagnetic disturbance level. A hardening of the electron spectra is observed near the geomagnetic equator. At L< 1.1, the more energetic particles are located closer to the geomagnetic equator. The results are compared with the data on the low-frequency waves and fields at low and near-equatorial latitudes obtained by the Ariel-4and San Marco Dsatellites, as well as by the spacecraft and ground-based observations of the thunderstorm global distribution. The thunderstorms are considered as a possible source of electron production near the geomagnetic equator.