An experimental test program has been conducted to ascertain the strength losses to which representative space tether materials may be prone upon impact by hypervelocity particles of known size, density, and velocity, when the tether is under tensile loading typical of flight design loads. Twelve hypervelocity impacts were followed by tensile tests to failure to determine residual strength; relationships are established between particle velocity and strength loss due to impact damage, as well as between tether strength loss and the relationship between particle and tether diameters. Tentative design criteria are formulated in terms of a design factor allowing for strength degradation by impact.
Hypervelocity impact testing of tethers
Intl. Conference on Space Tethers for Science in the Space Station Era ; 1987 ; Venice, Italy
1988-01-01
Conference paper
No indication
English
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