Protecting Earth-orbiting spacecraft against micro-meteoroid/orbital debris impact damage using composite structural systems and materials: An overview

Spacecraft that are launched to operate in Earth orbit are susceptible to impacts by meteoroids and pieces of orbital debris (MMOD). The effect of a MMOD particle impact on a spacecraft depends on where the impact occurs, the size, composition, and speed of the impacting object, the function of the impacted system. In order to perform a risk analysis for a particular spacecraft under a specific mission profile, it is important to know whether or not the impacting particle (or its remnants) will exit the rear of an impacted spacecraft wall. A variety of different ballistic limit equations (BLEs) have been developed for many different types of structural wall configurations. BLEs can be used to optimize the design of spacecraft wall parameters so that the resulting configuration is able to withstand the anticipated variety of on-orbit high-speed impact scenarios. While the level of effort exerted in studying the response of metallic multi-wall systems to high speed particle impact is quite substantial, the extent of the effort to study composite material and composite structural systems under similar impact conditions has been much more limited. This paper presents an overview of the activities performed to assess the resiliency of composite structures and materials under high speed projectile impact. The activities reviewed will be those that have been aimed at increasing the level of protection afforded to spacecraft operating in the MMOD environment, and more specifically, on those activities performed to mitigate the mechanical and structural effects of an MMOD impact.     

Multimodal characteristics of a piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate element impacted with iron particles having velocities above 20 km/s

The responses of a piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) element to hypervelocity collisions were experimentally studied. In this study, the particles of masses ranging from 0.3 to 10 fg were made to collide with PZT at velocities between 20 and 96 km/s. The amplitude and the corresponding rise time of the single-pulse output signals that were produced in the piezoelectric PZT element were measured to determine the possible collision states. The results revealed an apparently multimodal output; three classes were assumed to be involved in the pulse formation mechanism. The amplitude and rise time were sensitive to the collision velocity. The multimodal behavior implied that the PZT-based cosmic dust detectors should be calibrated according to the class they belong to.     

小口径电热化学超高速发射实验研究

在小口径发射装置上进行了以液体发射药为化学工质的电热化学发射实验研究,采用不同的装药结构及装药量改进内弹道性能, 可使弹丸获得超高速。对电能释放与化学能释放过程的合理匹配表明, 等离子体能够增强液体药的燃烧并影响压力变化曲线。通过等离子体射流与液体药装填方式的控制, 如采用环状装药结构, 可以增进等离子体与发射药的相互作用, 提高内弹道性能     

增强型MLI碎片防护能力的超高速撞击试验研究

采用超高速撞击试验的方法研究了多层隔热材料单元数、增强性材料添加层数、增强性材料添加位置及增强性材料属性等因素对增强型MLI防护性能的影响。试验结果显示,增加MLI单元数和添加增强性材料均可增加MLI的防护能力,但提高幅度会随着添加层数的增加而变小。     

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。
     

蜂窝夹层板超高速撞击极限方程分析

为分析撞击极限方程对蜂窝夹层结构的穿透特性的预测能力,调研得到了3类撞击极限方程的表达形式和等效方法,以及131个采用碳纤维复合材料(CFRP)面板的蜂窝夹层板结构的试验数据,并对撞击极限方程的预测能力进行了比较计算。结果发现,MET方程对他源数据的四种(未失效、失效、总体以及安全)预测率均大于80%,进行在轨航天器结构的失效分析时可优先选用;SRL方程对本源数据的安全预测率达到了100%,在他源数据上的安全预测率也很高,适用于航天器防护结构设计。探讨了撞击极限方程中的系数、速度分界值的优化思路,以提高撞击极限方程的预测率。     

Finite element reconstruction approach for on-orbit spacecraft breakup dynamics simulation and fragment analysis

Breakup model is the key area of space debris environment modeling. NASA standard breakup model is currently the most widely used for general-purpose. It is a statistical model found based on space surveillance data and a few ground-based test data. NASA model takes the mass, impact velocity magnitude for input and provides the fragment size, area-to-mass ratio, velocity magnitude distributions for output. A more precise approach for spacecraft disintegration fragment analysis is presented in this paper. This approach is based on hypervelocity impact dynamics and takes the shape, material, internal structure and impact location etc. of spacecraft and impactor, which might greatly affect the fragment distribution, into consideration. The approach is a combination of finite element and particle methods, entitled finite element reconstruction (FER). By reconstructing elements from the particle debris cloud, reliable individual fragments are identified. Fragment distribution is generated with undirected graph conversion and connected component analysis. Ground-based test from literature is introduced for verification. In the simulation satellite targets and impactors are modeled in detail including the shape, material, internal structure and so on. FER output includes the total number of fragments and the mass, size and velocity vector of each fragment. The reported fragment distribution of FER shows good agreement with the test, and has good accuracy for small fragments.     

单周期冲跃飞行轨迹性能参数影响程度分析

对高超声速飞行器的单周期冲跃飞行轨迹进行了研究。建立了动力学模型和约束条件。仿真分析了升阻比、初始速度和初始弹道倾角对飞行轨迹性能的影响,并讨论了影响程度,确定了适于该飞行器的最佳飞行走廊,为后续的冲跃飞行轨迹完整设计和优化提供了参考。     

基于均匀试验设计的Whipple结构弹道极限方程数值仿真研究

均匀试验设计是一种部分因子试验设计方法,将该方法引入航天器Whipple结构超 高速撞击弹道极限问题研究。采用均匀试验设计方法设计少量的试验,即可代表整个变量空 间的特性。针对试验方案,采用数值模拟获得了弹丸极限穿透直径同撞击条件的关系。将本 文研究结果与已有的物理试验和Whipple结构弹道极限方程对比,结果表明采用本文的方法 获得的弹道极限方程具有较好的预测准确度。
     

Whipple防护屏弹道极限参数试验

在中国空气动力研究与发展中心FD-18A超高速碰撞靶上进行了Whipple防护屏的超高速撞击试验。弹丸为LY12铝球,撞击速度为4.5km/s,撞击角为0°。通过固定弹丸速度、变弹丸直径、寻找弹丸临界直径的办法获得了该Whipple防护屏在试验条件下的弹道极限参数。试验结果表明速度为4.5km/s时的弹丸临界直径为0.35cm,大于用Christiansen方程预测的0.27cm。