Physical,mechanical and thermal properties of vacuum sintered HUST-1 lunar regolith simulant

Establishing a base on the Moon is one of the new goals of human lunar exploration in recent years.Sintered lunar regolith is one of the most potential building materials for lunar bases.The physical,mechanical and thermal properties of sintered lunar regolith are vital performance indices for the structural design of a lunar base and analysis of many critical mechanical and thermal issues.In this study,the HUST-1 lunar regolith simulant(HLRS)was sintered at 1030,1040,1050,1060,1070,and 1080℃.The effect of sintering temperature on the compressive strength was investigated,and the exact value of the optimum vacuum sintering temperature was determined between 1040 and 1060℃.Then,the microstructure and material composition of vacuum sintered HLRS at different temperatures were characterized.It was found that the sintering temperature has no significant effect on the mineral composition in the temperature range of 1030-1080℃.Besides,the heat capacity,thermal conductivity,and coefficient of thermal expansion(CTE)of vacuum sintered HLRS at different temperatures were investigated.Specific heat capacity of sintered samples increases with the increase of test temperature within the temperature range from-75 to 145℃.Besides,the thermal conductivity of the sintered sample is proportional to density.Finally,the two temperatures of 1040 and 1050℃were selected for a more detailed study of mechanical properties.The results showed that compressive strength of sintered sample is much higher than tensile strength.This study reveals the effects of sintering temperature on the physical,mechanical and thermal properties of vacuum sintered HLRS,and these material parameters will provide support for the construction of future lunar bases.

A comprehensive review of lunar lava tube base construction and field research on a potential Earth test site

The Moon,as the closest celestial body to the Earth,plays a pivotal role in the progression of deep space exploration,and the establishment of research outposts on its surface represents a crucial step in this mission.Lunar lava tubes are special underground caves formed by volcanic eruptions and are considered as ideal natural shelters and scientific laboratories for lunar base construction.This paper begins with an in-depth overview of the geological origins,exploration history,and distribution locations of lunar lava tubes.Subsequently,it delves into the presentation of four distinctive advantages and typical concepts for constructing bases within lava tubes,summarizing the ground-based attempts made thus far in lunar lava tube base construction.Field studies conducted on a lava tube in Hainan revealed rock compositions similar to those found during the Apollo missions and clear lava tube structures,making it a promising analog site.Lastly,the challenges and opportunities encountered in the field of geotechnical engineering regarding the establishment of lunar lava tube bases are discussed,encompassing cave exploration technologies,in-situ testing methods,geomechanical properties under lunar extreme environments,base design and structural stability assessment,excavation and reinforcement techniques,and simulated Earth-based lava tube base.

Preparation and Characterization of High-Strength Geopolymer Based on BH-1 Lunar Soil Simulant with Low Alkali Content

The construction of a lunar base and habitation on the Moon has always been on researchers’minds.Building materials used in in situ lunar resources are of great significance for saving expensive space freight.In this study,a new type of lunar soil simulant named Beihang(BH)-1 was developed.The chemical mineral composition and microstructure of BH-1 closely resemble those of real lunar soil,as verified by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy(XRF),X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),and reflectance spectra.This research also synthesized a geopolymer based on BH-1 cured at simulated lunar atmospheric conditions.We also investigated the effect of supplementing aluminum(Al)sources on the enhancement of geopolymer strength based on BH-1.The rheological behavior of alkali-activated BH-1 pastes was determined for workability.XRF,XRD,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,SEM coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy,and 27Al magic angle spinningnuclear magnetic resonance were used to characterize resulting geopolymers.Rheological test findings showed that the rheology of BH-1 pastes fits the Herschel–Bulkley model,and they behaved like a shear-thinning fluid.The results showed that the 28-day compressive strength of the BH-1 geopolymer was improved by up to 100.8%.Meanwhile,the weight of additives required to produce per unit strength decreased,significantly reducing the mass of materials transported from the Earth for the construction of lunar infrastructure and saving space transportation costs.Microscopic analyses showed that the mechanism to improve the mechanical properties of the BH-1 geopolymer by adding an additional Al source enhances the replacement of silicon atoms by Al atoms in the silicon–oxygen group and generates a more complete and dense amorphous gel structure.

Research progress on the adaptability of lunar regolith simulant-based composites and lunar base construction methods OA

The development and utilization of lunar resources are entering a critical stage.Immediate focus is needed on key technologies for in-situ resource utilization(ISRU)and lunar base construction.This paper comparatively analyzes the basic characteristics of lunar regolith samples returned from Chang'e-5(CE-5),Apollo,and Luna missions,focusing on their physical,mechanical,mineral,chemical,and morphological parameters.Given the limited availability of lunar regolith,more than 50 lunar regolith simulants are summarized.The differences between lunar regolith and simulants concerning these parameters are discussed.To facilitate the construction of lunar bases,this article summarizes the advancements in research on construction materials derived from lunar regolith simulants.Based on statistical results,lunar regolith simulant-based composites are classified into 5 types by their strengthening and toughening mechanisms,and a comprehensive analysis of molding methods,preparation conditions,and mechanical properties is conducted.Furthermore,the potential lunar base construction forms are reviewed,and the adaptability of lunar regolith simulant-based composites and lunar base construction methods are proposed.The key demands of lunar bases constructed with lunar regolith-based composites are discussed,including energy demand,in-situ buildability,service performance,and structural availability.This progress contributes to providing essential material and methodological support for future lunar construction.

Design of a Light, Foldable and Flexibility Lunar Base

In this paper, to meet the environmental requirements for the lunar surface, we outline the design of an intelligent shape memory polymer(SMP) capsule structure of lightweight using a flexible composite skin. Key breakthrough technology for manufacturing the high-performance multilayer composite is utilized to realize the requirements for folding and compressing during launching, and unfolding on the lunar surface, taking into account the current opposing requirements for launching and the space transportation mission of large equipment. Based upon the reduced constraints, better expansibility and easy assembly, this lunar base is suited to the initial and interim phases of a moon construction, and provides a national solution in the construction of lunar base on moon.

Laser welding study of vacuum sintered HUST-1 lunar regolith simulant

Efforts are underway to establish a permanent lunar base on the Moon. In situ lunar regolith is anticipated to be useful as a building material after sintering. However, sintering lunar regolith into a large-scale structure presents challenges. Therefore, the key to lunar construction lies in assembling multiple small-sized sintered modules into a stable, large-sized structure. This study explored the feasibility of welding the sintered HUST-1 lunar regolith simulant(HLRS) using a laser device and conducted experiments using lasers of varying power. The microstructure, mineral composition, element distribution, and shear strength of the welded joint were investigated. A few low-melting minerals were fused and vaporized during welding, leading to the generation of thermal decomposition gas. Furthermore, the welded joint exhibited numerous micro-cracks, pores, and bubbles,resulting in reduced weld shear strength. Finally, the influence of laser power on weld shear strength was investigated, revealing that the highest shear strength(15.69 N/cm) was achieved at a laser power of 1000 W. This study demonstrates the feasibility of laser welding of sintered HLRS for the first time, with potential applications in lunar base construction.

Production of Fibres from Lunar Soil:Feasibility,Applicability and Future Perspectives

The construction of a lunar base is considered to be an important step towards deep-space exploration by humanity,and will rely on the utilisation of in situ lunar resources.In this paper,we discuss the current knowledge on the feasibility of converting lunar soil to high-performance fibres that can be used for the construction of a lunar base.This fibre would be combined with further portions of lunar soil to generate fibre-reinforced composites,which is utilized as multi-functional materials for lunar base construction.We discuss and analyse the latest findings regarding the composition of lunar soil simulants and their fibrisation properties,and techniques for fibre spinning and system integration.Finally,we suggest how the achievements made so far could be applied to the construction of a lunar base.