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Fragmentation of colliding planetesimals with water content
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 January 2015
Abstract
We investigate the outcome of collisions of Ceres-sized planetesimals composed of a rocky core and a shell of water ice. These collisions are not only relevant for explaining the formation of planetary embryos in early planetary systems, but also provide insight into the formation of asteroid families and possible water transport via colliding small bodies. Earlier studies show characteristic collision velocities exceeding the bodies' mutual escape velocity which—along with the distribution of the impact angles—cover the collision outcome regimes ‘partial accretion’, ‘erosion’, and ‘hit-and-run’ leading to different expected fragmentation scenarios. Existing collision simulations use bodies composed of strengthless material; we study the distribution of fragments and their water contents considering the full elasto-plastic continuum mechanics equations also including brittle failure and fragmentation.
- Type
- Contributed Papers
- Information
- Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 9 , Issue S310: Complex Planetary Systems , July 2014 , pp. 138 - 141
- Copyright
- Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2014
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