Study on Hypervelocity Impact Characteristics of Polypropylene Spheres on Whipple Shields

Zhang, Yuxiang; Wang, Shengjie; Chi, Runqiang; Liu, Qingxu; Li, Xiaodan; Kan, Chunlei; Xu, Sainan; Ma, Jun

doi:10.3390/polym17030319

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Open AccessArticle

Study on Hypervelocity Impact Characteristics of Polypropylene Spheres on Whipple Shields

by

Yuxiang Zhang

^1,*

,

Shengjie Wang

¹,

Runqiang Chi

^2,*

,

Qingxu Liu

¹,

Xiaodan Li

¹,

Chunlei Kan

¹,

Sainan Xu

¹ and

Jun Ma

¹

Beijing Machine and Equipment Institute, Beijing 100854, China

²

Hypervelocity Impact Research Center, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Polymers 2025, 17(3), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17030319

Submission received: 17 December 2024 / Revised: 20 January 2025 / Accepted: 23 January 2025 / Published: 24 January 2025

(This article belongs to the Section Polymer Applications)

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Abstract

The hypervelocity impact characteristics of 7 mm diameter polypropylene spheres on Whipple shields with different bumper thicknesses at a velocity ranging from 2.257 to 4.012 km/s are studied in this work. The study has found that the hypervelocity impact characteristics of the polypropylene sphere contrast markedly with those of the aluminum sphere. The polypropylene sphere transfers greater energy to the bumper upon impact, leading to a larger perforation. Meanwhile, the microstructure at the perforation site is complex. The polypropylene sphere undergoes a phase change after impacting the bumper, forming a debris cloud primarily composed of ‘liquid filaments’. This debris cloud creates a ‘groove’-shaped damage morphology on the rear wall. The polypropylene sphere exhibits weaker perforation capabilities but generates a more extensive damage area on the rear wall.

Keywords: hypervelocity impact; polypropylene sphere; damage characteristics; Whipple shield

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MDPI and ACS Style

Zhang, Y.; Wang, S.; Chi, R.; Liu, Q.; Li, X.; Kan, C.; Xu, S.; Ma, J. Study on Hypervelocity Impact Characteristics of Polypropylene Spheres on Whipple Shields. Polymers 2025, 17, 319. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17030319

AMA Style

Zhang Y, Wang S, Chi R, Liu Q, Li X, Kan C, Xu S, Ma J. Study on Hypervelocity Impact Characteristics of Polypropylene Spheres on Whipple Shields. Polymers. 2025; 17(3):319. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17030319

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhang, Yuxiang, Shengjie Wang, Runqiang Chi, Qingxu Liu, Xiaodan Li, Chunlei Kan, Sainan Xu, and Jun Ma. 2025. "Study on Hypervelocity Impact Characteristics of Polypropylene Spheres on Whipple Shields" Polymers 17, no. 3: 319. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17030319

APA Style

Zhang, Y., Wang, S., Chi, R., Liu, Q., Li, X., Kan, C., Xu, S., & Ma, J. (2025). Study on Hypervelocity Impact Characteristics of Polypropylene Spheres on Whipple Shields. Polymers, 17(3), 319. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17030319

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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Study on Hypervelocity Impact Characteristics of Polypropylene Spheres on Whipple Shields

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