Investigating the velocity envelope of laser-driven micro-flyers for hypervelocity impact experiments. (2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mallick, Debjoy; Shaeffer, Matt; Dean, Steven; Ramesh, KT
• Is Part Of: Procedia engineering. Volume 204(2017)
• Page Start: 215
• Page End: 222
• Publication Date: 2017
• Subjects: Laser Driven Micro Flyer Hypervelocity Impact Photon Doppler Velocimetry High Rate; Engineering -- Congresses; Engineering -- Periodicals; Engineering; Conference proceedings; Periodicals; 620.005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.proeng.2017.09.776
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1877-7058

Abstract

Abstract: Protection materials are continuously facing higher velocity threats; characterizing their response to these threats is necessary to improve performance. We have previously examined failure of boron carbide and magnesium systems at strain rates of up to 10 5 per second [12, 13]. To study dynamic deformation at higher strain rates closer to the hypervelocity regime, we use micro-flyers to impact target materials. Over the last two decades, pulsed lasers have proven to be effective drivers for micro-flyers when achieving hypervelocity impacts. However, control of the experiment requires good characterization of the flyer behavior [11] and velocities. Here, we explore the velocity regime for a tabletop laser-driven flyer system as a function of laser pulse conditioning (fluence, pulse duration, etc.), and launch package materials. We modify an established model to inform the selection of launch package substrates and configuration in a lens-coupled micro-flyer apparatus. We use Photon Doppler Velocimetry (PDV) to obtain velocity histories of the flyers [10]. Comparisons between flyer data from our launcher system and the model predictions uncover the important parameters controlling launcher performance.