Experimental investigation into water-filled pressurized vessels damaged by high-velocity projectile impact

All spacecraft in orbit are susceptible to high velocity impact by meteoroid and space debris. Pressure vessels are the most critical components onboard spacecraft. Impacts of meteoroid or space debris on pressure vessels can indeed lead to the rupturing failure of the vessel and terminate prematurely spacecraft mission. The aim of this work is to explore experimentally the condition and the limit between simple perforation and rupturing damage of pressure vessels under high velocity impacts. Preliminary results are presented from high-velocity impact tests on thin-walled aluminum and steel cylindrical pressurized vessels filled with different percent volume of water and different pressure of gas. Damage patterns and mechanisms leading to rupturing failure are discussed.