Numerical Simulation of Impact Cratering and Induced Seismic Waves in Sand Targets

TL;DR

This study develops a numerical simulation model using sand as a proxy for regolith to analyze impact crater formation and seismic wave propagation, aligning well with experimental data and aiding predictions for small body surfaces.

Contribution

The paper introduces a new sand-based numerical model for impact cratering and seismic wave simulation that matches experimental results and enhances understanding of small body surface processes.

Findings

Crater size predictions align with experimental data.

Seismic wave propagation matches measured accelerations.

Model successfully reproduces sound velocity in sand targets.

Abstract

Impact cratering plays a crucial role in shaping the surfaces of small bodies, satellites, and planets, providing insights into their formation and the history of the Solar System. Small bodies are often covered with low-cohesion regolith. Using sand as a model of regolith, we constructed a numerical model for simulating impact on a sand target to investigate the mechanisms of crater formation and impact-induced seismic waves. Soda-lime glass and quartz sand targets were used for comparison. The developed sand model successfully reproduced the sound velocity measured in an experimental study. Using the new sand model, the crater formation was simulated using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics with a material strength parameter. The crater radius and $\pi$-scaling law derived from the numerical simulation were consistent with the experimental study. The vertical acceleration around the surface of the crater was consistent with the experimentally measured acceleration for the impact-induced seismic wave. The developed model can provide insight for predicting the size of craters on unknown small bodies.