COMPOSITES FOR SPACE TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS: HYPERVELOCITY IMPACT RESISTANCE OF COMPOSITE MATERIAL FOR POTENTIAL USE IN SPACE SATELLITE

Abstract

The growing danger of space debris and meteoroids poses significant risks to satellites operating in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Debris in LEO travels at hypervelocity speeds exceeding 2 km/s, which can cause severe damage to structure of satellites upon collision. While there has been extensive research into mitigating these risks, there is still a need to investigate how composite materials behave when impacted by very small, non-metal debris and possibly increase their impact resistance upon hypervelocity impacts with minimal delamination. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring a manufacturing method to improve composite materials for better impact resistance in potential space satellite applications. Four composite configurations were developed and tested under hypervelocity impact conditions using a 1.955 diameter projectile made of composite to simulate space debris impacts. The results showed that incorporating Aramid Weave (AW) reduced delamination by 93.25% compared to CFRP baseline sample, with minimal damage observed through Thermography, Optical scanning, and X-ray CT scanning techniques. These analyses not only showed the reduction in delamination but also provided valuable insights into materials behaviour under such impacts. For example, the use of Aramid Veil (A-Veil) was effective in arresting the projectile entirely yet was less effective in containing the damage. These findings suggest that incorporating AW in composite materials can significantly enhance their resilience in space environments, making it an ideal material for integration into satellite structural components to provide protection. This, in turn, enhances the durability of the components, extends the satellite's operational lifespan, and ensures greater safety and longevity for satellite missions.