Hypervelocity Impact Detection and Location for Stiffened Structures Using a Probabilistic Hyperbola Method

Area of Science:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Materials Science
• Wave Propagation

Background:

• Hyper-velocity impacts (HVIs) from orbital debris pose a significant threat to spacecraft safety.
• Accurate detection and localization of these impacts are crucial for spacecraft structural integrity and mission success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a probabilistic method for detecting and locating HVIs in stiffened aluminum plates using Lamb wave analysis.
• To investigate the characteristics of acoustic emission and shock wave propagation generated by HVIs.

Main Methods:

• A hybrid model combining finite element analysis (FEA) and smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) was employed for numerical simulations.
• Experimental validation was performed using a two-stage light gas gun to simulate HVI conditions.
• Lamb wave propagation and signal analysis were utilized for impact detection and localization.

Main Results:

• The hybrid FEA-SPH model accurately predicted HVI-induced acoustic emission and shock wave propagation, showing quantitative agreement with experimental data.
• Shock waves rapidly transform into Lamb waves, with the S0 mode dominating the signal energy (frequencies below 500 kHz).
• The proposed method achieved an average location error of less than 1 cm for a 1-square-meter plate using only four sensors.

Conclusions:

• The probabilistic Lamb wave analysis method is effective for detecting and locating HVIs in stiffened aluminum plates.
• The study validates the hybrid FEA-SPH model for simulating HVI phenomena.
• The findings contribute to enhanced spacecraft impact detection and monitoring systems.