Comparative Analysis of the Resistance of Spacecraft Protective Structures Based on Reactive Materials to the Impact of Space Debris Particles
Published: 23.03.2026
Authors: Kolpakov V.I., Lyubkyshkina A.Yu., Ladov S.V., Fedorov S.V.
Published in issue: #3(171)/2026
Category: Aviation and Rocket-Space Engineering | Chapter: Design, Construction, Production, Testing, and Operation of Aircraft
Modern spacecraft protection designs are based on the principle of impact fragmentation of space environment particles interacting with protective shields (bumpers). One of the effective ways to increase the durability of such protection is to manufacture protective bumpers from reactive materials (RM). This article, based on numerical modeling using the ANSYS-AUTODYN software package for solving two-dimensional axisymmetric problems of continuum mechanics, presents a comparison of the protective properties of various two-layer shield structures with RM bumpers. The modeling process established the qualitative superiority of a hybrid bumper structure using RM with different metallic filler compositions and ensuring intensive initial fragmentation of the impactor. Limit ballistic curves were constructed for the optimal configuration, demonstrating that the proposed design significantly outperforms the classic Whipple shield with an aluminum bumper in terms of protective effectiveness, especially at high speeds (over 6-7 km/s).
EDN PSDELZ
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