Debris behavior and damage characteristics of lattice structures under hypervelocity impact

TY - JOUR

T1 - Debris behavior and damage characteristics of lattice structures under hypervelocity impact

AU - Guan, Guiyang

AU - Li, Jianxiang

AU - Yin, Zhiyong

AU - Tang, Qunyi

AU - Chen, Xiaowei

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2026

PY - 2026/8

Y1 - 2026/8

N2 - The continued degradation of low earth orbit environment has intensified the risk of space debris impact on spacecraft, signaling the urgent need for high-performance protective structures. Lattice structures, featuring high specific strength and stiffness, excellent design flexibility and multifunctionality, are regarded as promising protective structures. Their three-dimensional open channels, however, yield protection and damage evolution distinct from conventional shielding materials. In this study, an FE-SPH adaptive coupling method is employed to develop a numerical model of the hypervelocity impact of a spherical projectile on a lattice structure. The simulations verify the open channels permitting fragment penetration, clarify the mechanisms linking fragment motion to target damage, and reveal the effects of lattices on the debris cloud generation, development, and morphology. Results indicate that pronounced channeling effect and insufficient target fragmentation lead to low energy absorption efficiency and the formation of highly threatening dominant debris jets, ultimately resulting in suboptimal shielding performance. The systematic analysis conducted in this study provides a corresponding reference for the subsequent research on lattice structures applied to space debris shielding.

AB - The continued degradation of low earth orbit environment has intensified the risk of space debris impact on spacecraft, signaling the urgent need for high-performance protective structures. Lattice structures, featuring high specific strength and stiffness, excellent design flexibility and multifunctionality, are regarded as promising protective structures. Their three-dimensional open channels, however, yield protection and damage evolution distinct from conventional shielding materials. In this study, an FE-SPH adaptive coupling method is employed to develop a numerical model of the hypervelocity impact of a spherical projectile on a lattice structure. The simulations verify the open channels permitting fragment penetration, clarify the mechanisms linking fragment motion to target damage, and reveal the effects of lattices on the debris cloud generation, development, and morphology. Results indicate that pronounced channeling effect and insufficient target fragmentation lead to low energy absorption efficiency and the formation of highly threatening dominant debris jets, ultimately resulting in suboptimal shielding performance. The systematic analysis conducted in this study provides a corresponding reference for the subsequent research on lattice structures applied to space debris shielding.

KW - Channeling effect

KW - Debris cloud

KW - FE-SPH method

KW - Hypervelocity impact

KW - Lattice structure

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105035691411

U2 - 10.1016/j.tws.2026.114953

DO - 10.1016/j.tws.2026.114953

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105035691411

SN - 0263-8231

VL - 227

JO - Thin-Walled Structures

JF - Thin-Walled Structures

M1 - 114953

ER -