Advanced Reentry Aeromechanics. Volume III. Laser Simulation of Erosion.
Abstract
Experiments using a pulsed laser to simulate hypervelocity impact during erosion are discussed in this report. The impact pressures of hundreds of kilobars and impulses found in hypervelocity impact can be generated in a target under a vacuum when irradiated with a laser. A model is discussed which relates the laser parameters to equivalent particle parameters. The experiments were performed using a one joule Q-switched ruby laser. The laser system quantitatively simulated erosion of cloud size particles, particle diameters to 100 micrometers. Brittle and ductile materials were tested during the program. The experimental results show that for ATJ-S graphite, the crater mass loss scales approximately as kinetic energy of the equivalent particle (1/2m V to the 1.93 + or - 0.16 power according to a least squares fit). It was also observed that the crater mass loss for predamaged materials was enhanced by approximately 50% over virgin material mass loss. The tests were conducted over an equivalent water particle velocity of from 2.5 to 18 km/sec. Crater Mass loss ratio measurements were compared to glass particle impact data. The average laser produced crater mass loss ratio was within the scatter of single glass bead particle data. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 31, 1975
- Accession Number
- ADA020748
Entities
People
- P. E. Nebolsine
Organizations
- Physical Sciences (United States)