An impact sensitivity assessment method of spacecraft based on virtual exterior wall

The impact sensitivity assessment of spacecraft is to obtain the probability of spacecraft encountering the OD/M(orbital debris or meteoroid),which is a prerequisite for survivability assessment of on-orbit spacecraft.An impact sensitivity assessment method of spacecraft based on virtual exterior wall was proposed to improve the computational efficiency.This method eliminates determination of the outermost surface elements of the spacecraft before generating the debris rays,which are assumed to originate from a non-concave virtual wall that completely wraps the spacecraft.The Dist Mesh method was adopted for the generating of the virtual wall to ensure its mesh quality.The influences of the sizes,mesh densities,shapes of the virtual wall on the efficiency and accuracy were considered to obtain the best combination of the size and mesh density of the wall and spacecraft.The results of this method were compared with those of S3DE(Survivability of Spacecraft in Space Debris Environment),BUMPER,MDPANTO,ESABASE2/Debris to verify the feasibility of the method.The PCHIP(Piecewise Cubic Hermite Interpolating Polynomial)was used to fit the size vs.flux relationship of the space debris to acquire the impact probability of OD/M with arbitrary size on the spacecraft.

Space debris environment engineering model 2019:Algorithms improvement and comparison with ORDEM 3.1 and MASTER-8

As an essential tool for realistic description of the current or future debris environment,the Space Debris Environment Engineering Model(SDEEM)has been developed to provide support for risk assessment of spacecraft.In contrast with SDEEM2015,SDEEM2019,the latest version,extends the orbital range from the Low Earth Orbit(LEO)to Geosynchronous Orbit(GEO)for the years 1958-2050.In this paper,improved modeling algorithms used by SDEEM2019 in propagating simulation,spatial density distribution,and spacecraft flux evaluation are presented.The debris fluxes of SDEEM2019 are compared with those of three typical models,i.e.,SDEEM2015,Orbital Debris Engineering Model 3.1(ORDEM 3.1),and Meteoroid and Space Debris Terrestrial Environment Reference(MASTER-8),in terms of two assessment modes.Three orbital cases,including the Geostationary Transfer Orbit(GTO),Sun-Synchronous Orbit(SSO)and International Space Station(ISS)orbit,are selected for the spacecraft assessment mode,and the LEO region is selected for the spatial density assessment mode.The analysis indicates that compared with previous algorithms,the variable step-size orbital propagating algorithm based on semi-major axis control is more precise,the spatial density algorithm based on the second zonal harmonic of the non-spherical Earth gravity(J_(2))is more applicable,and the result of the position-centered spacecraft flux algorithm is more convergent.The comparison shows that SDEEM2019 and MASTER-8 have consistent trends due to similar modeling processes,while the differences between SDEEM2019 and ORDEM 3.1 are mainly caused by different modeling approaches for uncatalogued debris.

Catastrophic Failure Assessment of Sealed Cabin for Ultra large Manned Spacecraft in M/OD Environment

Hypervelocity impacts of Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris(M/OD)may lead to catastrophic failure of long-term flight manned spacecraft in orbit.Risk assessment for manned spacecraft in M/OD environment is of great significance for the safety of human space missions.For typical catastrophic failure modes of manned spacecraft such as gas-leakage-induced astronaut hypoxia,sealed cabin fracture,and spacecraft breakup,catastrophic failure assessment method using critical perforation diameters and critical crack lengths of sealed cabins and critical fragment size of spacecraft breakup as failure criteria are proposed.In addition,corresponding modules of catastrophic failure assessment were developed and integrated with Meteoroid and Orbital Debris Assessment and Optimization System Tools,providing an effective assessment tool for researching on the safety of manned spacecraft.On the basis of which,catastrophic failure evaluation of sealed cabin for a specific ultralarge manned spacecraft in the M/OD environment was conducted,providing references for on-orbit mission safety evaluation.

Insights into microstructural evolution and deformation behaviors of a gradient textured AZ31B Mg alloy plate under hypervelocity impact

We have for the first time elucidated the microstructural evolution and deformation behaviors of a gradient textured AZ31 B Mg alloy plate under the ultrahigh strain rate of ~10~6 s^(-1) that is generated by a two-stage light gas gun with the hypervelocities of 1.6-4.4 km s^(-1). The hypervelocity impact cratering behaviors indicate that the cratering deformation of AZ31 B Mg alloy is mainly affected by the inertia and strength of the target material. The crater prediction equation of AZ31 B Mg alloy target under impact velocity of 5 km s^(-1) is given. The 2017 Al projectile completely melts in the Mg alloy target plate at the impact velocities of 3.8 km s^(-1) and 4.4 km s^(-1), and the microstructural evolution around the crater is: dynamic recrystallization zone, high-density twinning zone, low-density twinning zone, and Mg alloy matrix. It is found that the dynamic recrystallization, twinning and cracking are the main deformation behaviors for the AZ31 B Mg alloy to absorb the shock wave energy and release the stress generated by the hypervelocity impact. The main plastic deformation mechanisms of the Mg alloy target during hypervelocity impact are twinning and dislocation slip. Microstructure analysis shows the interactions of twins-twins, dislocations-dislocations, and twins-dislocations determine the strain hardening during the hypervelocity impact process, which eventually contributes the dynamic mechanical properties. The evolution of microhardness around the crater further demonstrates the microstructural evolutions and their interactions under the hypervelocity impacts.