Fragmentation of a small celestial body entering the atmosphere of a planet

A.G. Ivanov; V.A. Ryzhanskii

doi:doi:10.1051/jp4:20009114

Numéro		J. Phys. IV France Volume 10, Numéro PR9, September 2000 EURODYMAT 2000 - 6th International Conference on Mechanical and Physical Behaviour of Materials under Dynamic Loading


Page(s)		Pr9-683 - Pr9-688
DOI		https://doi.org/10.1051/jp4:20009114

EURODYMAT 2000 - 6th International Conference on Mechanical and Physical Behaviour of Materials under Dynamic Loading

J. Phys. IV France 10 (2000) Pr9-683-Pr9-688
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:20009114

Fragmentation of a small celestial body entering the atmosphere of a planet

A.G. Ivanov and V.A. Ryzhanskii

Russian Federal Nuclear Center, VNIIEF, Sarov, Nizhni Novgorod Region 607190, Russia

Abstract
The interaction of a small celestial body passing through the atmosphere of a planet is considered. Equations of aerodynamic deceleration of the body and condition of its fragmentation are obtained. It is shown that the fragmentation is a multistep process with steps separated in space and time. The model developed allows one to estimate the number of steps in fragmentation of the body, the number of fragments, their dimensions, parameters of motion, coordinates, and energy release into the atmosphere. The model is illustrated using the examples of interaction of a small celestial body and Comet Schoemaker-Levy 9 with the Earth's and Jupiter's atmospheres, respectively.