Fracture of solids by radiation pulses as a method of ensuring safety in space

To determine the optimum conditions of fracturing or altering the trajectory of dangerous space objects (large iron or rock space bodies, threatening to collide with the Earth), and also destroy space debris in the space around the Earth, the author presents a mathematical formulation of the problem of calculating the dynamic strength of solids under the effect of high-energy loading pulses. The results of numerical modeling are compared with the experimental data for the formulation of cupola-shaped swollen areas on the rear surface of a metallic plate subjected to laser radiation. The change in the fracture mechanisms (front and rear spallation) with increasing energy of the effect has been detected. Recommendations are given for optimizing the pulsed laser effect on dangerous space objects to ensure the fragmentation or change their orbit.Expanded form of the document presented at the International Conference Space Protection of the Earth≓ (SPE'94, Snezhinsk, Russian, September 26–30, 1994).Translated from Problemy Prochnosti, No. 3, pp. 31–51, March, 1996.