Analyzing the strength of space objects in dense atmospheric layers

Abstract

The mechanisms of destruction of a solid body (meteor) during re-entry into the atmosphere are studied. It is known that the consequences of a meteoroid entering the Earth’s atmosphere can vary from its complete combustion without significant adverse impacts to the fall of fragments of different sizes, causing considerable damage. Among the possible mechanisms of destruction is the occurrence of thermomechanical stresses due to the inhomogeneity of the body heating during its flight in dense layers of the atmosphere. The calculations show that during 20–30 s of flight, there appear the temperature gradients of different signs. Practice shows that fragmentation occurs just in the specified time interval from the entry of the body into the atmosphere, which directly indicates the thermomechanical destruction mechanism. The results can be useful for understanding the physical processes occurring during the combustion of space objects, for modeling the relevant thermal processes, as well as for improving the methods of detection, assessment and prediction of the motion and interaction of space objects with the Earth’s atmosphere.