Correlation between fragment shape and mass distributions in impact disruption

We propose that the shape of impact fragments reflects their fragmentation mechanisms; the fragmentation process that generates smaller fragments (fractal crack bifurcation) produces the shapes frequently observed in the previous studies, and those that generate larger fragments (spallation, random tessellation, and geometrical effects) produce flatter fragments. Fragment shape analyses derived from hypervelocity impact experiments in a variety of mass distribution ranges qualitatively support this view.