Engineering topics

Okeefe, J. D.

Publications and source records attributed to Okeefe, J. D..

22 records · Page 2

NASA NTRS1976

Impact ejecta on the moon

The partitioning of energy and the distribution of the resultant ejecta on the moon is numerically modeled using a Eulerian finite difference grid. The impact of an iron meteoroid at 15 km/sec on a gabbroic anorthosite lunar crust is examined. The high speed impact induced flow is described over the entire hydrodynamic regime from a time where the peak pressures are 6 Mbar until the stresses everywhere in the flow are linearly elastic, and less than 5 kbar. Shock-induced polymorphic phase changes, (plagioclase and pyroxene to hollandite and perovskite), and the subsequent reversion to low pressure phases are demonstrated to enhance shock wave attenuation. A rate-dependent equation of state is used for describing the hysteretic effect of the phase change. Ballistic equations for a spherical planet are then applied to material with net velocity away from the moon.

Okeefe, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Equations of state and impact-induced shock-wave attenuation on the moon

Current equation of state formulations, used for finite difference cratering flow calculations, are cast into a framework permitting comparison of peak pressures attained upon impact of a sphere, with a half-space, along the impact symmetry axis, to one dimensional impedance match solutions. On the basis of this formulation and application of thermochemical data, the regimes of melting and vaporization are examined. For the purpose of identifying material which will, upon isentropic release from the impact-induced shock state, result in a solid just brought to its melting point, i.e., incipiently melted (IM); completely melted (CM); just brought to its boiling point, i.e., incipiently vaporized (IV); and completely vaporized (CV) state, the pressures at which the critical isentropes intersect the Hugoniots of iron and gabbroic anorthosite (GA) are examined in detail. The latter rock type is assumed to be representative of the lunar highlands. The Hugoniot pressures, for which IM, CM, IV, and CV will occur upon isentropic expansion, are calculated to be 2.2, 2.6, 4.2, and 16.8 Mbar, respectively.

Ahrens, T. J.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Impact ejecta on the moon

The response of a lunar-sized object to the impact of meteoroids no more than about 100 km in radius is studied by means of a numerical model. The partitioning of impact energy into the kinetic and internal energy of the ejecta is obtained by using the conservation of mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations in finite-difference form within an Eulerian framework with approximate equations of state. The calculations are performed for a 15 km/sec impact of an iron object 5 cm in radius on a gabbroic anorthosite surface. Ejecta ballistic analysis is then performed. Most of the material lost escaping the moon is lunar crust material. Only 0.2% of the meteoroid escapes, all in the vapor phase.

Okeefe, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Shock effects from a large impact on the moon

The paper calculates the shock and shear deformation-induced internal energy distribution associated with a major basin-forming hypervelocity meteorite impact on the moon. The Hageman and Walsh formulation of the axisymmetric two-dimensional conservation equations in finite difference form is used, and the flow field induced upon impact of an iron meteorite traveling at 15 km/sec with a gabbroic anorthosite lunar crust is calculated for sequential time steps over a grid of hoop-shaped zones fixed in space. If an energy of 5 times 10 to the 32nd power ergs for the projectile energy is required to excavate a basin of Imbrium size, than a flow field of approximately 210 km in radius approximately 19 seconds after impact is indicated. The meteorite residue, the melt, and the ejecta are discussed, and the results are compared with the Gault and Heitowit (1963) formulation.

Okeefe, J. D.↗