Hypervelocity impact on CFRP: Testing, material modelling, and numerical simulation

This paper describes the derivation and validation of a numerical material model that predicts the highly dynamic behaviour of CFRP (carbon fibre reinforced plastic) under hypervelocity impact. CFRP is widely used in satellites as face sheet material in CFRP-Al/HC sandwich structures (HC = honeycomb) that can be exposed to space debris. A review of CFRP-Al/HC structures typically used in space was performed. Based on this review, a...