Boulder Stranding in Ejecta Launched by an Impact Generated Seismic Pulse

Abstract

We consider how an impact generated seismic pulse affects the surface of an asteroid distant from the impact site. With laboratory experiments on dry polydisperse gravel mixtures, we track the trajectories of particles ejected from the surface by a single strong upward propagating pressure pulse. High speed video images show that ejecta trajectories are independent of particle size, and collisions primarily take place upon landing. When they land particles are ballistically sorted, as proposed by Shinbrot et al. (2017), leaving larger particles on the surface and smaller particles more widely dispersed. A single strong pulse can leave previously buried boulders stranded on the surface. Boulder stranding due to an impact excited seismic pulse is an additional mechanism that could leave large boulders present on the surface of rubble asteroids such as 162173 Ryugu, 101955 Bennu and 25143 Itokawa.

Link to experiment videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYnpHw29go3rqDIHmaC8BjWKojxr2wSu8

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Cited by in corpus (5)

• Ricochets on Asteroids: Experimental study of low velocity grazing impacts into granular media
• Propagation and attenuation of pulses driven by low velocity normal impacts in granular media
• Ricochets on Asteroids II: Sensitivity of laboratory experiments of low velocity grazing impacts on substrate grain size
• Simulation of Lateral Impulse Induced Inertial Dilation at the Surface of a Vacuum-Exposed Granular Assembly
• Material parameter influence on the expression of Solitary-Wave-Induced Surface Dilation