Elevated temperature measurements during a hypervelocity impact process

Experiments have been performed using the 2 MV Van de Graaff dust accelerator facility of the University of Kent at Canterbury. Iron dust particles were accelerated towards a glass target. Velocities in the range 5-20km s\(^{-1}\) were attained for particles of mass 10\(^{-17}\)-10\(^{-14}\)kg. Intensity of the resulting light flash was then measured for two different wavelengths and the temperature of the ejecta cloud was found assuming black body emission.

Experimental results were compared against one dimensional predictions based on equilibrium thermodynamics. A mie-Gruneisen equation of state was assumed for the glass target. Shock state and subsequent release gave an estimation for the temperature.

Finally, a simple model was constructed to simulate glass hypervelocity impacts with the use of hydrocodes. Although numerical and computational deficiencies limited the use of hydrocodes to predict ejecta cloud temperatures, it was possible to use the mode to estimate the dimensions of the impact craters on glass and compare them with published data.