Modelling and Simulation of Cratering and Ejecta Production During High Velocity Impacts

During an impact event from a high velocity particle (moving at speeds of around 100 m/s or greater) a significant amount of ejecta can be formed and thrown away from the impact point at velocities on the same order as the original impactor. The amount, size distribution, and speed distribution of this ejecta vary with the impact conditions. Predicting this cratering and ejecta phenomena has applications to many areas, including solar system formation, asteroid defense considerations, and micrometeorite impacts on satellites. This paper will look at the physics and modeling of these impacts and the subsequent ejecta formation from these hypervelocity particles. Impacts are modeled using adaptive smooth particle hydrodynamics, and crater volume and ejecta characteristics are quantified and presented. Good agreement with two experimental test cases is obtained.