Abstract:

A two-stage light gas gun is used to launch Al-sphere projectiles impacting on two-layer aluminum plate structures and three-layer aluminum plate structures under the vacuum environment. The effects of impact velocity, plate space and plate thickness on damage of shield structures are studied. And then impact limit velocities of three-layer aluminum plate structures are analyzed, and compared with the experimental results of two-layer aluminum plate structures with the same area density. The results indicate that the protection performance of three-layer aluminum plate structures are stronger than two-layer aluminum plate structures. The increase in the thickness of the first layer aluminum plate helps to enhance the protection performance of three-layer aluminum plate structures with the same area density. When the second layer plate is located at the middle position of the space between first layer aluminum plate and rear wall, the protection performance of three-layer aluminum plate structures tends to be the best.

Key words: Three-layer plate structure, High-velocity impact, Damage, Impact limit velocity, Space debris