The presence in space of micrometeoroids and orbital debris, particularly in the lower Earth orbit, presents a continuous hazard to orbiting satellites, spacecraft and the International Space Station. Space debris includes all nonfunctional man-made objects and fragments in Earth orbit. As the amount of debris continues to grow, the probability of collisions that could lead to potential damage will consequently increase. In this book chapter, the feasibility of self-healing of impacted composites in space is discussed.

Chapter Contents:

• 8.1 Elaboration of self-healing in resin and carbon fibre reinforced plastics
• 8.1 Elaboration of self-healing in resin and carbon fibre reinforced plastics
• 8.1.1 Preparation of resin sample
• 8.1.1 Preparation of resin sample
• 8.1.2 Validation of the high velocity impact test on epoxy based samples
• 8.1.2 Validation of the high velocity impact test on epoxy based samples
• 8.1.3 Self-healing in carbon fibre reinforced polymer samples under high velocity impact
• 8.1.3 Self-healing in carbon fibre reinforced polymer samples under high velocity impact
• 8.2 Self-healing in carbon fibre reinforced polymer samples under hypervelocity impact test
• 8.2 Self-healing in carbon fibre reinforced polymer samples under hypervelocity impact test
• 8.2.1 Sample preparation
• 8.2.1 Sample preparation
• 8.2.2 Hypervelocity impact test
• 8.2.2 Hypervelocity impact test
• 8.2.3 Study of the thickness of carbon fibre reinforced polymer samples after hypervelocity impact
• 8.2.3 Study of the thickness of carbon fibre reinforced polymer samples after hypervelocity impact
• 8.2.4 Three point bending test
• 8.2.4 Three point bending test
• 8.2.5 Damping effects of the carbon nanotubes material
• 8.2.5 Damping effects of the carbon nanotubes material
• 8.3 Hypervelocity measurement with fibre Bragg grating sensors
• 8.3 Hypervelocity measurement with fibre Bragg grating sensors
• 8.4 Summary of the hypervelocity impact study
• 8.4 Summary of the hypervelocity impact study
• References
• References

Inspec keywords: aerospace materials; organic compounds; carbon fibre reinforced plastics; delamination; maintenance engineering; aerospace safety; life testing; woven composites; impact (mechanical); aerospace components

Other keywords: orbital debris; orbital space debris; microcapsules; tests; spacecraft; dicyclopentadiene; C; woven CFRP; International Space Station; impact; hazard; micrometeoroids; lower Earth orbit; carbon fibre reinforced polymers; self-healing; orbiting satellites; 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene; impacted composites

Subjects: Testing; Plant engineering, maintenance and safety; Engineering materials; Composite materials (engineering materials science); Ballistics and mechanical impact (mechanical engineering); Other topics in aerospace; Aerospace industry; Maintenance and reliability