Disruption patterns of rotating self-gravitating aggregates: A survey on angle of friction and tensile strength

• Published in: Icarus (New York, N.Y. 1962) N.Y. 1962), 2016-06, Vol.271, p.453-471
• Main Authors: Sánchez, Paul, Scheeres, Daniel J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggregates; Asteroids; Disruption; dynamics; Friction; Gravitation; rotation; Simulation; Tensile strength; Tensile stress
• ISSN: 0019-1035; 1090-2643
• DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2016.01.016

•Simulated self-gravitating aggregates show different disruption patterns depending on angle of friction and tensile strength.•There is no physical difference between disruption by shedding and by fission.•A possibly mechanism for the formation of binary asteroids has been proposed.•Morphological features of asteroids 1999 KW4, 1950 DA and 1620 Geographos were observed in simulations​.•Disruption patterns similar to those of active asteroids P/2013 R3 and P/2013 P5 were observed in simulations. This paper presents a study, through the use of a SSDEM simulation code, of the possible disruption patterns and mechanisms of self-gravitating aggregates that are spun-up to the point of disruption. We do this survey by systematically changing the angle of friction and tensile stress of the aggregates. It is observed that the amount of deformation that takes place before disruption, as well as its onset, is directly related to the angle of friction. On the other hand, the change in tensile strength allows us to clearly observe a continuous transition from losing surface material to larger scale fission at higher spin rates before disruption, but in no case do we observe surface flow. These results are also compared to other simulation results and the observations of asteroids P/2013 R3, P/2013 P5, 1950 DA, 1999 KW4 and Geographos. Additionally, we propose modifications to previously discussed mechanisms for the formation of binary asteroids and asteroid pairs.