Effect of using small-sized bumper on Whipple shield in high velocity impact tests

This paper explores the bumper size effects on the damage produced by high velocity impacts on Whipple shields. Tests were performed using the non-powder two-stage light gas gun facilities at Hypervelocity Impact Research Center at Harbin Institute of Technology. The damage to the rear wall of the Whipple shield is independent on bumper size, and the perforation hole diameter and the deflection curve near the hole on the bumper independent on bumper size too. It was also found that the maximal deflections of the bumpers and the concave of the deflection curve of the bumper dependent on bumper size. With increasing bumper size the maximal deflections of the bumpers increased, and the concave of the deflection curve of the bumper changed from towards back surface to front surface of the bumper, but the increase of the maximal deflections reduced at the same velocity. Copyright IAF/IAA. All rights reserved.