Computational Design of Metal-Fabric Orbital Debris Shielding

Hybrid particle-finite element methods, developed specifically to simulate hypervelocity impact physics, may be used to compliment experimental and analytical research on micrometeoroid and orbital debris shielding. Recent research has applied a hybrid particle-finite element method to model the hypervelocity impact response of an enhanced metal-fabric orbital debris shield developed for the Soyuz Orbital Module, composed of both thermal insulation and orbital debris protection layers. The numerical model was employed to simulate impact effects in a high-velocity impact regime outside the capabilities of current light-gas guns. The simulation results suggest that momentum scaling may be applied to estimate the ballistic limit performance of multilayer composite shields, for spherical projectiles over an impact velocity range important in low Earth orbit applications but not accessible to experiments.