Protection Assessment Method for Advanced Whipple Shield Based on Hazardous Fragments

A Whipple shield is a dual-plate structure commonly used to protect spacecraft from space debris impacts. Upon impact, the debris strikes the outer plate, breaking into a cloud of smaller fragments with dispersed energy and momentum, reducing the likelihood of penetration through the bulkhead. However, larger and more energetic fragments in the debris cloud remain the primary threat. With advancements in high-performance materials like fiber composites, traditional Whipple shields have evolved into more advanced configurations. This study introduces a novel quantitative assessment method for evaluating the protective performance of advanced Whipple shields, using a typical-fiber-reinforced composite—carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminate—as a case study. The approach integrates mesoscopic modeling with the finite-element-smoothed particle hydrodynamics adaptive method to accurately simulate debris clouds generated by aluminum spheres impacting both CFRP laminates and aluminum plates of equivalent surface density. Hazardous fragment criteria for different materials are established on the basis of these simulations. Through an analysis of fragment size, quantity, velocity, and energy angular distribution, the characteristics and lethality of debris clouds produced by aluminum impacts on CFRP laminates are evaluated. Finally, a comparative analysis of the protective performance of CFRP laminates versus aluminum plates is presented, demonstrating that CFRP laminates offer superior protection against low-velocity, small-size space debris. This assessment method is applicable to other advanced Whipple shields as well.