HVI Damage Assessment

A device is proposed that can track the electrical charge dispersion that is created when hyper velocity impact (HVI) occurs between two entities with a closing velocity greater than 1 km per second. This same device can measure the time of arrival of the charge wave front at transducers placed throughout the vehicle. Using the known speed of light minus the reactive effects of the skin of the vehicle on the "charge", the system can calculate the exact point of impact. Further, the nature of the charge dispersal wave front contains critical information as to the damage incurred as a result of the HVI.

NASA, DOD, and commercial space enterprises fly a variety of spacecraft with a resulting risk of high velocity impacts with space debris and/or incoming particles from the cosmos. Impact location and damage assessment have long been a desirable capability for both manned and unmanned vehicles. NASA and our satellite customers have indicated that a system that detects and locates impacts can provide much needed information as to the subsequent management of remaining satellite resources to optimize the remaining capabilities of the spacecraft.

Detailed data and analysis on the physics of the high speed energy transformations that occur in an HVI environment are critical to verification of high resolution models that attempt to predict HVI collisions with details of fracturing paths, and other material failure mechanisms that are used in the design of commercial and military structures. High resolution modeling has become a valuable tool in the design process in that it allows engineers to subject designs to harsh environments and examine the failure modes in detail in order to provide the basis of component re-design without the expense of destructive testing.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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