Abstract
To investigate the relationship between stress wave propagation and the plasma discharge generated by a projectile high-velocity impact on solar array with 2A12 aluminum substrate structures at the incidence angle of 60°. Three sets of experiments about stress wave propagating and plasma discharge in composite structure of solar array have been performed by taking advantage of PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) film sensor, plasma characteristic parameter diagnostic system, discharge measurement system and two-stage light gas gun loading system established by ourselves. Experimental results showed that the duration of stress wave was about 30±5μs, and maximum stresses are about 1400±200MPa in experiments. Furthermore, the discharge phenomenon did happen and the duration of discharge current was also different in solar array at the different impact velocities. The basic consistency between stress wave propagation and discharge duration is also confirmed by experiments.
Highlights
More and more spacecrafts are operating in Geostationary Orbit (GEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO), all these will pose a great threat to the spacecrafts operating in GEO and LEO
The peak discharge current between the solar array cell and the aluminum substrate is larger than the peak discharge current of the main circuit
To disclose the relationship between stress wave propagation and the plasma discharge generated by a projectile high-velocity impact on solar array with 2A12 aluminum substrate structures at the incidence angles of 60○
Summary
With human being space activities are increased frequently, man-made space debris are increasing rapidly, the nature make the spacecraft space environment deteriorate significantly in orbit. more and more spacecrafts are operating in Geostationary Orbit (GEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO), all these will pose a great threat to the spacecrafts operating in GEO and LEO. The plasma generated by high-velocity impact can form discharge path in the compositions of solar array among different materials, which will induce electrostatic discharge.. Once the solar array is subjected to space debris or meteorite, solar array will produce a primary discharge induced by plasma, and plasma of high conductivity in the solar array cells will induce spacecraft discharge and form short circuit.. When the solar array encounter with the debris or meteorite, its prominent effect is a high density plasma induced by high stress during the process of impact. Electrostatic discharge will induce short circuit of solar array, and the power supply can not be transfered to the effective load of spacecraft and lose its function.. The electron density and temperature of the plasma, the discharge voltage and current of the external circuit created by highvelocity impact are obtained, and experiments verify the consistency between the stress wave propagation and discharge duration
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