Premium
Experimental investigation of the impact fragmentation of blocks embedded in regolith
Author(s) -
DURDA Daniel D.,
CHAPMAN Clark R.,
CINTALA Mark J.,
FLYNN George J.,
STRAIT Melissa M.,
MINNICK Anderson
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
meteoritics and planetary science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.09
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1945-5100
pISSN - 1086-9379
DOI - 10.1111/j.1945-5100.2010.01163.x
Subject(s) - regolith , impact crater , geology , asteroid , block (permutation group theory) , ejecta , astrobiology , fragmentation (computing) , geochemistry , geometry , physics , computer science , astronomy , mathematics , supernova , operating system
Abstract– We present results of a set of impact experiments designed to examine the effects of impacts onto rocky blocks resting on and embedded within regoliths. The targets were approximately 500 g granodiorite blocks, struck with one‐eighth inch aluminum spheres at nominal speeds of approximately 5 km s −1 . The granodiorite blocks were emplaced in 20–30 grade silica sand to simulate an asteroidal or lunar regolith; block burial depths ranged from resting flush on the surface to submerged completely below the surface. We observe a trend for largest remnant mass to increase with block burial depth. Documentary still image and high‐speed video of the resulting block fragments and surrounding regolith reveal new insights into the morphologies of blocks and secondary craters observed on asteroids like 433 Eros.