Particle launch to 19 km/s for micro-meteoroid simulation using enhanced three-stage light gas gun hypervelocity launcher techniques
✍ Scribed by T.F. Thornhill; L.C. Chhabildas; W.D. Reinhart; D.L. Davidson
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 2006
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 978 KB
- Volume
- 33
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0734-743X
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Particle launch experiments were performed to study application of the enhanced hypervelocity launcher (EHVL), i.e. the third-stage addition to the two-stage gun, for launching micron to millimeter sized particulates at velocities unobtainable with a standard two-stage light gas gun launch. Three types of particles or fliers were tested along with several barrel designs. For micron scale particles fine-grain polycrystalline ceramics were impacted and fractured, launching particulate clouds at velocities of 15 km/s. Multiple titanium particles 400 mm diameter embedded in plastic were ''shotgun'' launched to velocities of 10 km/s. Flier plates of 3 mm diameter by 1 mm thick Ti6Al4V were launched to 19 km/s. All experiments used a second-stage projectile with graded density facing impacting a flier in an impact generated acceleration reservoir. This paper describes the modification and adaptation of the Sandia EHVL to provide micrometeoroid simulation capabilities.