Comparison of analytic Whipple bumper shield ballistic limits with CTH simulations

Abstract

A series of CTH simulations were conducted to assess the feasibility of using the hydrodynamic code for debris cloud formation and to predict any damage due to the subsequent loading on rear structures. Six axisymmetric and one 3-dimensional simulations were conducted for spherical projectiles impacting Whipple bumper shields. The projectile diameters were chosen to correlate with two well known analytic expressions for the ballistic limit of a Whipple bumper shield. It has been demonstrated that CTH can be used to simulate the debris cloud formation, the propagation of the debris across a void region, and the secondary impact of the debris against a structure. In addition, the results from the CTH simulations were compared to the analytic estimates of the ballistic limit. At impact velocities of 10 km/s or less, the CTH predicted ballistic limit lays between the two analytic estimates. However, for impact velocities greater than 10 km/s, CTH simulations predicted a ballistic limit larger than both analytical estimates. The differences at high velocities are not well understood. Structural failure at late times due to the time integrated loading of a very diffuse debris cloud has not been considered in the CTH model. In addition, the analytic predictions are extrapolated from relatively low velocity data and the extrapolation technique may not be valid. The discrepancy between the two techniques should be investigated further.