Catastrophic disruption by hypervelocity impact of multi-layered spherical ice targets. (October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Burchell, M.J.; Harriss, K.H.
• Is Part Of: International journal of impact engineering. Volume 168(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-10
• Subjects: Ice -- Layered targets -- Cratering -- Catastrophic disruption; Impact -- Periodicals; Shock (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Impact -- Périodiques; Choc (Mécanique) -- Périodiques; Impact; Shock (Mechanics); Periodicals; 620.1125
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2022.104294
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0734-743X

Abstract

Key Highlights: Tri-layered targets (solid core-water layer-icy surface) were made and impacted The targets were tested for catastrophic disruption at speeds in excess of 1 km s −1 A solid core beneath a liquid intermediate layer lowers the resistance to disruption Abstract: The catastrophic disruption of tri-layered spherical icy bodies is reported. The bodies are 19 cm in total diameter, with a central core, an intermediate water layer and an icy surface (each layer respectively approximately 25, 55 and 20% of the total radius). Their response to high-speed impact is investigated at laboratory scales by firing 1.5 mm diameter glass spheres at the targets at speeds in the range 0.9 – 3.2 km s −1 and an ice layer thickness normalised to projectile diameter of typically 20 – 30. The energy density to just break apart such a body (defined as an event where the mass of the largest fragment post-impact is ½ the original target mass) is (3.1±0.1) J kg −1 . This is significantly less than that found for similar sized solid ice spheres (18 ± 0.7) J kg −1, water filled ice spheres (16.25 ± 1.35) J kg −1 or hollow ice spheres (25.5 ± 0.5) J kg −1 indicating that the presence of a solid layer beneath an internal ocean, can influence disruption, effectively weakening the body.