Cylindrically symmetric SPH simulations of hypervelocity impacts on thin plates

SPH (Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics) is a relatively new gridless Lagrangian numerical technique which offers advantages over more established grid based Lagrange and Euler methods. An SPH capability implemented into the AUTODYN-2D software has been used to simulate hypervelocity impacts on thin Whipple shield type target plates. The first set of SPH simulations are compared with very well characterised experimental cases presented by Piekutowski. Simulated debris cloud shapes and debris cloud velocities, for an impact velocity of 6.7km/s and a range of plate thickness to projectile diameter ratios were obtained. These compare very well with the measured values. The second SPH simulation case is that of a hypervelocity aluminium-on-aluminium impact on a two wall Whipple shield. The case considered has been experimentally tested and previously simulated using Euler techniques. Similar results are obtained with the SPH and Euler techniques but much lower computational resources were used in the SPH model.