Numerical Simulation of Debris Cloud Produced by Hypervelocity Impact of Projectile on Bumper

All spacecraft in low orbit are subject to hypervelocity impacts by meteoroids and space debris. These impacts can damage spacecraft flight-critical systems, which can in turn lead to catastrophic failure of the spacecraft. In order to ensure the astronauts safety and spacecraft normal operation, the design of meteoroids and space debris protection configuration become an important problem of spacecraft design. The numerical simulations of debris cloud produced by projectile hypervelocity impact on bumper at normal and oblique angles have been carried out using the SPH (smoothed particle hydrodynamics) technique of AUTODYN hydro-codes in this paper. The results using two and three-dimensional simulations are given. The effect of bumper thickness, projectile shape, impact velocity and material models etc. on debris cloud has been investigated. The simulation results are compared with experimental results, and the simulated debris cloud shapes and debris cloud characteristic points velocity are consistent very well with experimental results.