Damage estimation method for spacecraft protective structures exposed to hypervelocity impacts

This paper presents an estimation method for assessing the damage to the rear wall of spacecraft protective structures caused by hypervelocity impacts of space debris. Utilizing the smoothed particle hydrodynamics for numerical simulation, a kernel-function based kinetic energy mapping method is employed to analyze the kinetic energy distribution of the debris cloud generated by the initial impact upon the rear wall. This study establishes a correlation between the kinetic energy of the debris cloud and the resulting damage to the rear wall. This correlation allows for the estimation of damage characteristics, including the depth and volume of impact craters on the rear wall following exposure to a debris cloud. Taking the hypervelocity impacts of an Al-2017 projectile on an Al-6061 thin plate as examples, experimental validation has demonstrated the effectiveness, robustness and versatility of this method over a range of particle sizes and grid resolutions. This method enables rapid estimation of damage to protective structures and assessment of their residual protective performance.