Breakthrough of a composite obstacle by high-velocity particles as a result of realization of the superdeep-penetration effect

Abstract

The results of investigations of the superdeep penetration of high-velocity microparticles into composite obstacles in the process of their collisions are presented. It is shown that the penetration process can be controlled, in principle.In [1][2][3], the results of experiments on breakthrough of a steel obstacle of thickness 100-200 mm by high-velocity microparticles in the regime of superdeep penetration are presented. After the collision of a particle flux with an obstacle, traces of the material of the particles and of the obstacle were detected on the surface of thin aluminum, copper, or plastic foils packed in a stack of 30-40 foils positioned downstream of the obstacle [1]. It was established that, when an integrated circuit is placed downstream of an obstacle, its case (cover) is broken and the crystal is damaged [2, 3].The superdeep-penetration effect is also realized when a flux of microparticles collides with fluoroplastic or aluminum obstacles [4]. The effectiveness of penetration, determined by the total number of penetrated particles per unit area of foils positioned downstream of an obstacle, is higher for fluoroplastic than for aluminum.Open questions are the realization and efficiency of superdeep penetration in the case of collision of a particle flux with composite obstacles consisting of several layers of nonmetal materials having a different acoustic stiffness. The study of the breakthrough of such an obstacle, as well as a steel obstacle, by particles is of importance for providing the safety of space flights because a particle bunch can collide with the body of a spacecraft in the regime of superdeep penetration. The superdeep-penetration effect can be realized in outer space in the case of collision of a spacecraft with bunches of microparticles that can break through the body of the spacecraft. The microjets of the material of these particles penetrate into the body of the spacecraft and the material of the body itself will have a high residual penetrating power. The interaction of microjets with electronic elements (integrated circuits) located in the immediate vicinity of the body of the spacecraft can damage these elements, which can cause their failure or an inadmissible change in the operating parameters. In this case, the spacecraft will not be depressurized because particles that have broken through an obstacle in the regime of superdeep penetration do not form a through hole in it. This breakthrough is very dangerous since it is difficult to reveal and, therefore, the reason for a malfunction of electronic elements, as the most vulnerable, is difficult to explain in this case. Information on different particles and their bunches found in outer space appears frequently in publications [5,6]. Particle bunches, including the so-called "cosmic refuse," have appeared as a result of the intensive and uncontrolled launching performed during the last 10-15 years. These bunches represent a serious hazard to spacecraft, which has generated the need for investigating the superdeep penetrati...