Transient Response of Shields and Characteristics of Debris Clouds Produced By Hypervelocity Impact Using SPH Method

Numerical simulation of hypervelocity impacts (HVI) on an aluminum target have been carried out using the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamic (SPH) technique in order to provide a useful input to Finite Element Model or Statistical Energy Model on evaluating the vibration environment induced by the projectile on the target. Numerical results are validated and compared with high quality experimental results. Three major features of clouds are shown to consist of an ejecta veil, an expanding bubble of debris and a significant internal structure composed of three distinct elements. Then the induced forces transmitted to the plate are calculated. At last simulations for a simple Whipple shield is done and the new results of transmitted force and induced vibrations are obtained. Through the numerical simulation, the effectiveness of using Whipple shields is discussed.