Shape of fragments cloud behind heterogeneous screen by a space debris particle impact

Technogenic pollution of near-Earth space poses a threat to the functioning of spacecraft. Collisions between space debris (SD) and spacecraft (SC) structures can have catastrophic consequences or cause localized damage, leading to the loss of SC operability or the failure of certain functions. The SC body must effectively protect the internal equipment from various external impacts, be technologically feasible to manufacture, and have as little mass as possible. As a result, the task of designing spacecraft bodies and protective screens for low-orbit SC is particularly relevant due to the large concentration of SD in low Earth orbits.

A comparative numerical study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of various thin shields in protecting against impacts from space debris particles. The study examined homogeneous shields made of A356 aluminum alloy and 316L stainless steel, as well as volumetrically reinforced composite shields produced using additive manufacturing with steel inclusions, and shields with a gradient distribution of steel throughout the thickness of an aluminum matrix, all with the same areal density. In all the heterogeneous plates considered, the volumetric concentration of steel was 36 %. The study covered an interaction velocity range of 2–9 km/s. Numerical modeling results indicated that the structure of the thin heterogeneous plate does not affect the shape of the debris cloud formed behind the protective shield. The findings of this study can serve as a basis for selecting materials for the development of more effective protection for spacecraft against high-velocity impacts.