Mechanical Behavior of Meteorites: Multiscale Characterization of the Strength and Failure Mechanism

In this research, the chemical and mineralogical compositions, physical and mechanical properties, and failure mechanisms of two ordinary chondrite (OCs) meteorites Aba Panu (L3) and Viñales (L6), and the iron meteorite called Gibeon (IVA) were studied. OCs are dominated by anhydrous silicates with lesser amounts of sulfides and native Fe-Ni metals, while Gibeon is primarily composed of Fe-Ni metals with scattered inclusions of graphite and troilite. The OCs were investigated to understand their response to compressive loading, using a three-dimensional (3-D) Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique to measure full-field deformation and strain during compression. The DIC data were also used to identify the effects of mineralogical and structural heterogeneity on crack formation and growth. Even though Aba Panu and Viñales are mineralogically similar and are both classified as L ordinary chondrites, they exhibit differences in compressive strengths due to variations in chemical compositions, microstructure, and the presence of cracks and shock veins. DIC data of Aba Panu and Viñales show a brittle failure mechanism, consistent with the crack formation and growth from pre-existing microcracks and porosity. In contrast, the Fe-Ni phases of the Gibeon meteorite deform plastically without rupture during compression, whereas during tension, plastic deformations followed by necking lead to final failure. The Gibeon DIC results showed strain concentration in the tensile gauge region along the sample edge, resulting in the initiation of new damage surfaces that propagated perpendicular to the loading direction. Finally, an in-situ low-temperature testing method of iron meteorites was developed to study the response of their unique microstructure and failure mechanism.