Shock attenuation efficiency of different buffer materials during the separation of explosive bolts

Abstract Explosive bolts are widely used in spacecraft separation. Strong transient shock waves are usually generated during the unlocking process, which can influence the precision of the instruments inside the spacecraft. Therefore, reducing the shock generated during the explosive bolt-unlocking process is important in space engineering. This paper establishes a simplified numerical model for the explosive bolt separation process to investigate the shock attenuation efficiency of different buffer materials, including fluoroplastics, rubbers, and aluminum foams. The simulation results show that rubbers with a medium modulus can provide effective shock attenuation. For specific impact conditions, it is necessary to select aluminum foams with moderate platform stress to absorb the impact energy. If the platform stress is too low, it may result in an inadequate energy absorption capacity. In contrast, excessively high platform stress may limit plastic deformation, hindering the full utilization of energy absorption capabilities.