Damage Propagation in Ductile Metals Subjected To Hypervelocity Impacts

Hypervelocity impact damage on pressurized aluminum alloy tanks, due to orbital debris, was studied. The induced damaged area, as the results of the fragmented particles, was measured. The calculated damaged size was incorporated in the FMDM (fracture mechanics of ductile metals) model to predict catastrophic failure. The variation of the failure stress as a function of critical damaged size was plotted and was called damaged or failure curve. The failure predicted by the model collaborated with the experimental test results performed on several plates. These plates were subjected to biaxial loading simulated state of stress induced in the cylindrical pressurized tank.