An investigation of metal matrix composites as shields for hypervelocity orbital debris impacts

Abstract

The improvement of space vehicle shield designs to resist penetration by hypervelocity impacts of meteoroids or man-made orbital debris can lengthen mission life and increase mission efficiency. One option to improve shields is to create new bumper materials which can be tailored to meet the requirements for effective shielding. Metal matrix composites are one such material. Fiber content, type, and orientation could be varied to tailor the material to the specific properties needed for weight efficient shielding. In this study, two varieties of aluminum matrix composites were investigated, one with continuous graphite fibers and one with silicon carbide particulates. The objectives of the study were: to compare the penetration resistance of the composite with the known resistance of aluminum; to study the penetration mechanics by comparing the condition of the composite after the impact test with the pre-test condition; to study the effects of fiber content and fiber orientation on penetration resistance; and to recommend a material “design” for metal matrix composites which would best protect a space vehicle from orbital debris. The composite bumpers did not perform significantly better than aluminum bumpers. The particulate composites are more effective bumpers than the continuous fiber composites for the conditions tested. The differences in the measured hole diameters resulting from the impact tests as compared to predicted hole diameters for the particulate composite bumpers, are within the expected differences for metallics. However, the continuous fiber composites had much larger holes than predicted.