Velocity-dependent wave forms of piezoelectric elements undergoing collisions with iron particles having velocities ranging from 5 to 63 km/s

A response from piezoelectric lead-zirconate-titanate elements was investigated by bombarding them with hypervelocity iron particles. The observed signal form was clearly dependent on the particle velocity during collisions. The signal form exhibited oscillations for particle velocities less than 6km∕s, whereas it changed drastically into a solitary pulse above 20km∕s. This behavior was exclusively classified based on the velocity. The rise time of the solitary pulse in the output form had a good correlation with the velocity at impact. The change in the form was discussed in terms of elastic and plastic states by regarding Young’s modulus as a criterion between both states. It is proposed that a single piezoelectric element has the potential to detect the velocity of particles in space.