Numerical simulation of hypervelocity impact of the water-filled aluminum eggshell array structure using material point method

In the context of space exploration, spacecraft are frequently subjected to hypervelocity impact from space debris, which can result in significant damage. To avoid or mitigate the impact damage caused by space debris, the deployment of Whipple shields in front of bulkheads has been identified as a highly effective protective strategy. This paper presents the design of a water-filled aluminum eggshell array structure (WAEAS), inspired by the biomechanical mechanics properties of the egg. The WAEAS can be fabricated via 3D printing, which is used to improve the protective performance of the Whipple shields. To investigate the energy-absorbing mechanism of the WAEAS, a hypervelocity impact computational model is constructed. The morphology of the debris cloud, the size of the perforation in the WAEAS, the residual velocity of the projectile, the impact energy, and the temperature field were simulated by the material point method. The results demonstrate that the WAEAS exhibits superior resistance to the impact of hypervelocity projectiles in comparison to conventional single-layer aluminum shields, in the absence of additional energy-absorbing materials.