SPH calculations of asteroid disruptions: The role of pressure dependent failure models

We present recent improvements of the modeling of the disruption of strength dominated bodies using the Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) technique. The improvements include an updated strength model and a friction model, which are successfully tested by a comparison with laboratory experiments. In the modeling of catastrophic disruptions of asteroids, a comparison between old and new strength models shows no significant deviation in the case of targets which are initially non-porous, fully intact and have a homogeneous structure (such as the targets used in the study by Benz&Asphaug (1999). However, for many cases (e.g. initially partly or fully damaged targets, rubble-pile structures, etc.) we find that it is crucial that friction is taken into account and the material has a pressure dependent shear strength. Our investigations of the catastrophic disruption threshold $Q^*_{D}$ as a function of target properties and target sizes up to a few 100 km show that a fully damaged target modeled without friction has a $Q^*_{D}$ which is significantly (5-10 times) smaller than in the case where friction is included. When the effect of the energy dissipation due to compaction (pore crushing) is taken into account as well, the targets become even stronger ($Q^*_{D}$ is increased by a factor of 2-3). On the other hand, cohesion is found to have an negligible effect at large scales and is only important at scales $\lesssim$ 1km. Our results show the relative effects of strength, friction and porosity on the outcome of collisions among small ($\lesssim$ 1000 km) bodies. These results will be used in a future study to improve existing scaling laws for the outcome of collisions (e.g. Leinhardt&Stewart, 2012).Comment: Accepted for publication in Planetary and Space Scienc

Modeling asteroid collisions and impact processes

As a complement to experimental and theoretical approaches, numerical modeling has become an important component to study asteroid collisions and impact processes. In the last decade, there have been significant advances in both computational resources and numerical methods. We discuss the present state-of-the-art numerical methods and material models used in "shock physics codes" to simulate impacts and collisions and give some examples of those codes. Finally, recent modeling studies are presented, focussing on the effects of various material properties and target structures on the outcome of a collision.Comment: Chapter to appear in the Space Science Series Book: Asteroids IV. Includes minor correction

Global Scale Impacts

Global scale impacts modify the physical or thermal state of a substantial fraction of a target asteroid. Specific effects include accretion, family formation, reshaping, mixing and layering, shock and frictional heating, fragmentation, material compaction, dilatation, stripping of mantle and crust, and seismic degradation. Deciphering the complicated record of global scale impacts, in asteroids and meteorites, will lead us to understand the original planet-forming process and its resultant populations, and their evolution in time as collisions became faster and fewer. We provide a brief overview of these ideas, and an introduction to models.Comment: A chapter for Asteroids IV, a new volume in the Space Science Series, University of Arizona Press (Patrick Michel, Francesca E. DeMeo, William F. Bottke, Eds.

Failure Mechanism of True 2D Granular Flows

Most previous experimental investigations of two-dimensional (2D) granular column collapses have been conducted using three-dimensional (3D) granular materials in narrow horizontal channels (i.e., quasi-2D condition). Our recent research on 2D granular column collapses by using 2D granular materials (i.e., aluminum rods) has revealed results that differ markedly from those reported in the literature. We assume a 2D column with an initial height of h0 and initial width of d0, a defined as their ratio (a =h0/d0), a final height of h , and maximum run-out distance of d . The experimental data suggest that for the low a regime (a <0.65) the ratio of the final height to initial height is 1. However, for the high a regime (a >0.65), the ratio of a to (d-d0)/d0, h0/h , or d/d0 is expressed by power-law relations. In particular, the following power-function ratios (h0/h=1.42a^2/3 and d/d0=4.30a^0.72) are proposed for every a >0.65. In contrast, the ratio (d-d0)/d0=3.25a^0.96 only holds for 0.65< a1.5. In addition, the influence of ground contact surfaces (hard or soft beds) on the final run-out distance and destruction zone of the granular column under true 2D conditions is investigated.Comment: 8 page

Multiphase SPH simulation for interactive fluids and solids

This work extends existing multiphase-fluid SPH frameworks to cover solid phases, including deformable bodies and granular materials. In our extended multiphase SPH framework, the distribution and shapes of all phases, both fluids and solids, are uniformly represented by their volume fraction functions. The dynamics of the multiphase system is governed by conservation of mass and momentum within different phases. The behavior of individual phases and the interactions between them are represented by corresponding constitutive laws, which are functions of the volume fraction fields and the velocity fields. Our generalized multiphase SPH framework does not require separate equations for specific phases or tedious interface tracking. As the distribution, shape and motion of each phase is represented and resolved in the same way, the proposed approach is robust, efficient and easy to implement. Various simulation results are presented to demonstrate the capabilities of our new multiphase SPH framework, including deformable bodies, granular materials, interaction between multiple fluids and deformable solids, flow in porous media, and dissolution of deformable solids

Constraining surface properties of asteroid (162173) Ryugu from numerical simulations of Hayabusa2 mission impact experiment.

The Hayabusa2 mission impact experiment on asteroid Ryugu created an unexpectedly large crater. The associated regime of low-gravity, low-strength cratering remained largely unexplored so far, because these impact conditions cannot be re-created in laboratory experiments on Earth. Here we show that the target cohesion may be very low and the impact probably occurred in the transitional cratering regime, between strength and gravity. For such conditions, our numerical simulations are able to reproduce the outcome of the impact on Ryugu, including the effects of boulders originally located near the impact point. Consistent with most recent analysis of Ryugu and Bennu, cratering scaling-laws derived from our results suggest that surfaces of small asteroids must be very young. However, our results also show that the cratering efficiency can be strongly affected by the presence of a very small amount of cohesion. Consequently, the varying ages of different geological surface units on Ryugu may be due to the influence of cohesion

A Unified Particle System Framework for Multi-Phase, Multi-Material Visual Simulations

We introduce a unified particle framework which integrates the phase-field method with multi-material simulation to allow modeling of both liquids and solids, as well as phase transitions between them. A simple elasto-plastic model is used to capture the behavior of various kinds of solids, including deformable bodies, granular materials, and cohesive soils. States of matter or phases, particularly liquids and solids, are modeled using the non-conservative Allen-Cahn equation. In contrast, materials---made of different substances---are advected by the conservative Cahn-Hilliard equation. The distributions of phases and materials are represented by a phase variable and a concentration variable, respectively, allowing us to represent commonly observed fluid-solid interactions. Our multi-phase, multi-material system is governed by a unified Helmholtz free energy density. This framework provides the first method in computer graphics capable of modeling a continuous interface between phases. It is versatile and can be readily used in many scenarios that are challenging to simulate. Examples are provided to demonstrate the capabilities and effectiveness of this approach

Numerical study of self-assembly of granular and colloidal particles

Self-assembly of granular materials and colloids are studied using several different computational methods such as Discrete Element Method (DEM), Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method, finite volume Volume of Fluid and DEM (VOF-DEM) method and coupled VOF-Level Set and Dissipative Particle Dynamics (CVOFLS-DPD) method. A history dependent contact model is developed for the DEM and a cohesion model is introduced to study the packing of granular materials under cohesive forces. The study reveals granular size and size distribution has an important effect on the final packing structure. The study using SPH method reveals stress relaxation in a granular system subjected consecutive jamming cycles. However, above a certain initial packing fraction stress relaxation is found to be negligible. Further analysis reveals characteristics length and time scales for stress relaxation. Three-cycle basis is found to be the most preferred configuration of the particles as the granular system drives towards a more stable state. The study using VOF-DEM method reveals pattern formation by colloidal deposits as a thin film of fluid evaporates. Further analysis with CVOFLS-DPD method reveals interface forces on particles need to be carefully modeled to prevent escaping of particles during evaporation. The use of machine learning (ML) for computational study is also explored in this study. A machine-learned sub-grid scale (SGS) modeling technique is introduced for efficient and accurate prediction of reactants and products undergoing parallel competitive reactions in a bubble column. The machine-learned model replaces the iterative approach associated with the use of analytical profiles for previous sub-grid scale models for correcting concentration profiles in boundary layers.Includes bibliographical references