Characterizing the transient response of CFRP/Al HC spacecraft structures induced by space debris impact at hypervelocity

To quantify the disturbance induced by the impact of micrometeoroid and space debris particles at hypervelocity on vibration-sensitive CFRP/Al HC SP satellite platforms a method is presented which uses experimentally validated hydrocode models to characterize the impact-induced transient wave in the local structure. Key features of the transient waveform are simplified by a mathematical function which is expressed in terms of impactor momentum. Evolution of the transient waveform is characterized using multiple measurement gauges located on the sandwich panel facesheets outside the area of mechanical damage. The characterization is then used to extrapolate the elastic waveform back to the impact location. The elastic-equivalent excitation of a CFRP/Al HC SP is defined in terms of force with respect to time for application in finite element structural codes for propagation of the local disturbance to vibration-sensitive locations (i.e. measurement devices).