Numerical analysis of debris cloud formation in UHMWPE wavy plates during hypervelocity impact

Abstract

This paper presents and analyses the numerical results of hypervelocity impact against ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) plates with four different surface wave profiles. UHMWPE wavy plates (WP) are intended to be used in Whipple Shield bumper plate, which is of paramount importance for space vehicles against micro-meteorite and orbital debris (MMOD) impact protection. Numerical work was carried out as a hybrid combination of smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) and finite element modelling (FEM). Circular plates were subjected to hypervelocity impact of a spherical aluminium projectile travelling at 3000 m/s. The outcomes of the simulations were analysed in terms of debris cloud generation, projectile fragmentation, and impact energy dissipation performance of wavy plates, and compared with a conventional flat counterpart. Results of this study indicate that surface wave profile has a clear positive influence in terms of hypervelocity impact protection performance.

Keywords

• Hypervelocity impact
• wavy plates
• UHMWPE
• SPH
• Whipple Shield

Hiper hız darbesi sırasında UHMWPE dalgalı plakalarda enkaz bulutu oluşumunun nümerik analizi

Öz

Bu çalışma, dört farklı yüzey dalgası profiline sahip ultra yüksek moleküler ağırlıklı polietilen (UHMWPE) plakalara karşı hiper hız etkisinin sayısal sonuçlarını sunmakta ve analiz etmektedir. UHMWPE dalgalı plakaların (WP), mikro göktaşı ve yörünge enkazına (MMOD) karşı darbe korumasında, uzay araçları için büyük önem taşıyan Whipple Kalkanı tampon plakasında kullanılması amaçlanmaktadır. Nümerik çalışma, yumuşatılmış parçacık hidrodinamiği (SPH) ve sonlu elemanlar modellemesinin (FEM) hibrit bir kombinasyonu olarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Dairesel plakalar, 3000 m/s hızla hareket eden küresel bir alüminyum merminin hiper hızda çarpma etkisine maruz bırakılmıştır. Simülasyon sonuçları dalgalı plakaların enkaz bulutu oluşumu, mermi parçalanması ve darbe enerjisi dağıtma performansı açısından analiz edilmiştir ve geleneksel düz bir muadiliyle karşılaştırılmıştır. Bu çalışmanın sonuçları, yüzey dalga profilinin hiper hız darbesinden korunma performansı açısından açık bir şekilde olumlu etkiye sahip olduğunu göstermektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Hiperhızlı darbe
• dalgalı plakalar
• UHMWPE
• SPH
• Whipple Kalkanı

Kaynakça

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