postimpact

Postimpact is a term used across disciplines such as geology, planetary science, and materials engineering to describe processes, phenomena, or analyses that occur after an impact event. The word combines 'post-' meaning after with 'impact' meaning a collision, explosion, or other abrupt force.

In planetary science and geology, postimpact describes the evolution of a crater and its surroundings after the initial impact. This includes ejecta deposition, rim uplift and floor fracturing, and secondary alteration of rocks by heat, fluids, and pressure in the postimpact environment.

In materials science, postimpact refers to the condition of a material after being struck, used to evaluate residual damage, deformation, and changes in mechanical properties. Postimpact testing, imaging, and computer modeling help quantify damage tolerance and inform design strategies.

In disaster response and engineering, postimpact analyses assess structural damage and inform recovery and mitigation planning following an impact event or explosion.

The term is descriptive rather than a single formal concept; its precise meaning depends on the context and subfield, and it is often qualified (for example, postimpact crater, postimpact deformation, postimpact hydrothermal activity).

See also: impact crater, ejecta, hydrothermal system, damage tolerance.