A study on the fragmentation of space debris particles at high-speed collision

A mathematical model was previously proposed by the first author to evaluate the number of fragments and their mass distribution at high-speed collision of two space debris particles and to determine their velocities after collision. The constants used in this model are assumed to be temperature-independent. In this paper it is shown that the consideration of temperature effects due to high-speed collision of particles leads to the formation of smaller fragments and to a significant increase of their total number.