Computational Models of Spacecraft Shielding (IMAGE)
Caption
Top: This figure shows a computational model of the spacecraft shielding and wall depicted above. The wall of the spacecraft is shown in red. The shielding is modeled as five layers: aluminum (in yellow), multilayer insulation (in green), and Beta-cloth plus aluminized Mylar (in blue). The model reproduces exactly the correct material areal densities, but the layer count is reduced, in order to reduce computational cost. Bottom: This figure shows simulation results for the impact of a 0.24 cm diameter aluminum projectile on the spacecraft shield and wall depicted above. Impact velocity is 9 km/s and the impact obliquity is 30 degrees. The simulation indicates that this projectile will pass through the shielding system and perforate the wall of the spacecraft.
Credit
Eric Fahrenthold, The University of Texas at Austin
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