Preparation and characterization of a specialized lunar regolith simulant for use in lunar low gravity simulation

Lunar in-situ resource utilization(ISRU)has been put on the agenda by many countries.Due to the special material nature and low gravity environment,the lunar regolith demonstrates significantly different behavior from terrestrial geomaterials.However,the systematic understanding of its geotechnical behavior is now seriously restricted by the scarcity of lunar regolith and the difficulty in simulating lunar gravity.A new lunar regolith simulant,termed as China University of Mining and Technology Number One(CUMT-1),has been developed to recover properties of the lunar regolith and simulate the lunar gravity by adopting the recently advanced geotechnical magnetic-similitude-gravity model testing(GMMT)method.The CUMT-1 simulant was prepared by reproducing the in-situ formation and fragmentation of the lunar matrix,which plays a key role in the irregular particle morphology.The mineralogical compositions,particle morphology and gradation,specific gravity,bulk density,void ratio,shear strength,and compressibility were determined.After quantifying the magnetization and magnetic-similitude-gravity characteristics,an application of the cone penetration resistance under low gravity was further given.The obtained results are compared to the values known for lunar regolith samples and other simulants,which demonstrates promising characteristics for use in geotechnical engineering-based and scientificbased applications,especially considering the influence of lunar gravity.

Influence of Temperature and Frequency on Microwave Dielectric Properties of Lunar Regolith Simulant

The dielectric constant of the lunar regolith can directly influence the reflection coefficient and the trans-mission coefficient of the Moon′s surface, and plays an important role in the Moon research. In order to study the di-electric properties of the lunar regolith, the lunar regolith simulant was made according to the making procedure of the CAS-1 simulant made by Chinese Academy of Sciences. Then the dielectric constants of the lunar regolith simulant were measured with 85070E Aiglent Microwave Network Analyzer in the frequency ranging from 0.2 GHz to 20.0 GHz and at temperature of 25.1℃, 17.7℃, 13.1℃, 11.5℃, 9.6℃, 8.0℃, 4.1℃, -0.3℃, -4.7℃, -9.5℃, -18.7℃, -27.7℃, and -32.6℃, respectively. The Odelevsky model was employed to remove the influence of water in the air on the final effective dielectric constants. The results indicate that frequency and temperature have apparent influences on the dielectric constants of the lunar regolith simulant. The real parts of the dielectric constants increase fast over the range of 0.2 GHz to 3.0 GHz, but decrease slowly over the range of 4.0 GHz to 20.0 GHz. The opposite phenomenon occurs in the imaginary parts. The influences of the frequency and temperature on the brightness temperature were also estimated based on the radiative transfer equation. The result shows that the variation of the frequency and temperature results in great changes of the microwave brightness temperature emitting from the lunar regolith.

Simulation Research on the Effect of Spreading Process Parameters on the Quality of Lunar Regolith Powder Bed in Additive Manufacturing

Lunar surface additive manufacturing with lunar regolith is a key step in in-situ resource utilization.The powder spreading process is the key process,which has a major impact on the quality of the powder bed and the precision of molded parts.In this study,the discrete element method(DEM)was adopted to simulate the powder spreading process with a roller.The three powder bed quality indicators,including the molding layer offset,voidage fraction,and surface roughness,were established.Besides,the influence of the three process parameters,which are roller’s translational speed,rotational speed,and powder spreading layer thickness on the powder bed quality indicators was also analyzed.The results show that with the reduction of the powder spreading layer thickness and the increase of the rotational speed,the offset increased significantly;when the translational speed increased,the offset first increased and then decreased,which resulted in an extreme value;with the increase of the layer thickness and the decrease of the translational speed,the values for voidage fraction and surface roughness significantly reduced.The powder bed quality indicators were adopted as the optimization objective,and the multi-objective parameter optimization was carried out.The predicted optimal powder spreading parameters and powder bed quality indicators were then obtained.Moreover,the optimal values were then verified.This study can provide informative guidance for in-situ manufacturing at the moon in future deep space exploration missions.

On Modeling Drilling Load in Lunar Regolith Simulant

Drilling and coring, as effective ways to obtain lunar regolith along the longitudinal direction, are widely applied in the lunar sampling field. Conventionally, modeling of drill-soil interaction was divided into soil cutting and screw conveyance processes, ignoring the differences in soil mechanical properties between them. To improve the modeling accuracy, a hypothesis that divides the drill-soil interaction into four parts: cuttings screw conveyance, cuttings extruding, cuttings bulldozing, and in situ simulant cutting, is proposed to establish a novel model based on the passive earth pressure theory. An iterative numerical calculation method is developed to predict the drilling loads. A drilling and coring testbed is developed to conduct experimental tests. Drilling experiments indicate that the drilling loads calculated by the proposed model match well the experimental results. The proposed research provides the instructions to adopt a suitable drilling strategy to match the rotary and penetrating motions, to increase the safety and reliability of drilling control in lunar sampling missions.

基于“嫦娥五号”月壤的TJC-1模拟月壤研制

认识“嫦娥五号”(Chang’E-5)月壤对人类理解月球具有重要意义。为满足月球基地原位建造用地聚合物3D打印试验对月壤的体量需求,基于Chang’E-5月壤的化学成分、物相组成和粒径分布,对标研制了全新的模拟月壤TJC-1。调查发现,满足低硅低铝条件的原料玄武岩在中国分布相当有限。经优选原料玄武岩进行粉磨制备,表征结果显示:TJC-1模拟月壤的SiO2和Al2O3含量分别为41.10%和12.02%;主要物相为普通辉石、钙长石和镁橄榄石;粒径分布与Chang’E-5月壤接近、中值粒径为40.09μm;微观形貌能够观察到与Chang’E-5月壤颗粒相似的锋利棱角形状。以上结果表明,所研制的TJC-1模拟月壤与Chang’E-5月壤具有很好的相似性,可用于模拟月壤地聚合物3D打印进行智能建造月球基地的研究。

3D-printed Lunar regolith simulant-based geopolymer composites with bio-inspired sandwich architectures

Over time,natural materials have evolved to be lightweight,high-strength,tough,and damage-tolerant due to their unique biological structures.Therefore,combining biological inspiration and structural design would provide traditional materials with a broader range of performance and applications.Here,the application of an ink-based three-dimensional(3D)printing strategy to the structural design of a Lunar regolith simulant-based geopolymer(HIT-LRS-1 GP)was first reported,and high-precision carbon fiber/quartz sand-reinforced biomimetic patterns inspired by the cellular sandwich structure of plant stems were fabricated.This study demonstrated how different cellular sandwich structures can balance the structure–property relationship and how to achieve unprecedented damage tolerance for a geopolymer composite.The results presented that components based on these biomimetic architectures exhibited stable non-catastrophic fracture characteristics regardless of the compression direction,and each structure possessed effective damage tolerance and anisotropy of mechanical properties.The results showed that the compressive strengths of honeycomb sandwich patterns,triangular sandwich patterns,wave sandwich patterns,and rectangular sandwich patterns in the Y-axis(Z-axis)direction were 15.6,17.9,11.3,and 20.1 MPa(46.7,26.5,23.8,and 34.4 MPa),respectively,and the maximum fracture strain corresponding to the above four structures could reach 10.2%,6.7%,5.8%,and 5.9%(12.1%,13.7%,13.6%,and 13.9%),respectively.

Printability and hardening performance of three-dimensionally-printed geopolymer based on lunar regolith simulant for automated construction of lunar infrastructure

Using an in situ lunar regolith as a construction material in combination with 3D printing not only reduces the weight of materials carried from the Earth but also improves the automation of lunar infrastructure construction.This study aims to improve the printability of a geopolymer based on a BH-1 lunar regolith simulant,including the extrudability,open time,and buildability,by controlling the temperature and adding admixtures.Rheological parameters were used to represent printability with different water-to-binder ratios,printing temperatures,and contents of additives.The mechanical properties of the hardening geopolymer with different filling paths and loading directions were tested.The results show that heating the printed filaments with a water-to-binder ratio of 0.32 at 80°C can adjust the printability without adding any additive,which can reduce the construction cost of lunar infrastructure.The printability of the BH-1 geopolymer can also be improved by adding 0.3%Attagel-50 and 0.5%polypropylene fiber by mass at a temperature of 20℃to cope with the changeable environmental conditions on the Moon.After curing under a simulated lunar environment,the 72-h flexural and compressive strengths of the geopolymer specimens reach 4.1 and 48.1 MPa,respectively,which are promising considering that the acceleration of gravity on the Moon is 1/6 of that on the Earth.

月球冻土模拟与剪切强度试验分析

为获得月球永久阴影区冻土的剪切强度特性,分析了月球冻土的矿物成分、粒径分布、干密度、含水率、赋存温度等物理特性,提出了月球冻土的模拟物制备与参数检测方法。基于变角剪切试验(Variable-Angle ShearTest,VAST)方法,开展了斜长质和玄武质原料混配、干密度1.71g/cm^(3)(相对密实度100%)、含水率3.7~9.5wt%、温度低于-180℃的模拟月球冻土剪切强度测试。试验结果表明:模拟月球冻土在低围压下的剪切破坏模式以剪断面上的脆性断裂为主,随围压升高,模拟月球冻土的脆性降低、延性增加,破坏模式转变为整体压剪破坏,表观剪切强度下降;按直线型莫尔-库伦准则对模拟月球冻土在低围压下的剪切强度参数计算,结果显示其内聚力随含水率增加而近似线性增加,内摩擦角基本不随含水率变化,取值在50°~53°。

模拟月壤3D打印致密化成型研究

月壤原位3D打印(增材制造)可实现月球基地的原位建造和关键部件的原位制造,大幅降低月球探测任务的成本和风险。搭建了选择性激光熔融模拟月壤实验系统,开展单轨成型实验,探索激光功率,扫描速度、首层粉末厚度对样品致密化的影响,同时测量了每条轨道的宽度和深度。研究结果表明,单轨宽度随着扫描速度的增高而下降,直至几乎不变。同一激光功率下,单轨深度随着首层粉末厚度增加而变深。单轨深度随着扫描速度的升高,先升高后下降。单条熔道密度可以达到2.5 g/cm^(3),此时相对密度为86%。随着扫描速度增加,不同层厚单轨密度均稳定在1.7 g/cm^(3)。首层粉末厚度越薄时,单轨密度也是略高于其他层厚。这些数据将为原位建造技术提供重要支撑。

磁性高钛模拟月壤IRSM-1的研制及其性质研究

对月球的探测已进入以月球原位资源利用(ISRU)为主的新阶段,系统掌握月壤特殊的力学响应与工程特性对月球资源开发利用具有重要意义。迄今为止,绝大多数针对月壤及模拟月壤性质的试验研究都是在地球上开展的,忽略了月面环境,尤其是低重力环境对这些性质的影响。地质力学磁力模型试验可以结合磁性相似材料模拟月面g/6的低重力环境。由于目前已有的模拟月壤磁性极弱,无法满足磁力模型试验的要求。因此,研制了一种具有一定磁性的高钛模拟月壤IRSM-1并测试了该模拟月壤的成分及性质。将测试结果与部分月壤及模拟月壤的性质进行了对比分析。结果表明:IRSM-1模拟月壤的化学矿物成分与高钛月壤相似,其物理力学特性在月壤的范围之内,较好地还原了真实月壤的基本特性。此外,IRSM-1还具有一定的磁性,可以作为磁力模型试验的相似材料。

模拟月壤制备技术研究进展

月球是人类开启外太空探索的首个目标,正因如此,不管是对月球本身进行科学探索,还是将月球当作后续太空探测的前哨站,月球基地的建设都具有很高的战略价值。结合原位资源利用技术推动月球基地建设,不仅极大地节省了成本,也减少了地月运输的风险,是目前呼声极高的方案。而月壤作为月球表面最容易获得的材料,自然是作为原位资源利用技术的最佳原料选择。但是目前从月球上收集而来的月壤相当稀少,无法满足实验研究。因此许多国家研制了模拟月壤以便进行各项研究,充分挖掘月壤的潜力以及验证其作为原位资源的可行性。基于此背景,围绕模拟月壤的制备技术,分析讨论现阶段模拟月壤所面临的问题,然后从粉体研究、成型技术、烧结工艺3个方面介绍国内外关于模拟月壤性能提高的研究及其成果,最后对这些科研成果在月球上应用的前景和可能遇到的挑战进行总结与展望。

Synthesis and characterization of geopolymer from lunar regolith simulant based on natural volcanic scoria

In this study,a new GVS(Ground Volcanic Scoria)lunar regolith simulant was produced.The similarity between GVS and lunar soil was proved by comparison with Apollo lunar soil samples and other commercial lunar soil simulants.Then,GVS lunar regolith simulant was investigated as the source material for preparing geopolymer to produce building material for lunar colony construction.To study the possibility of preparing geopolymer from GVS lunar regolith simulant and the optimum activator formulation as well as the optimum curing conditions,alkaline activated GVS slurries with different mixing ratios based on an orthogonal test scheme were prepared.The geopolymer products based on GVS were characterized by flexural strength test,compressive strength test,X-ray fluorescence(XRF),X-ray diffraction(XRD),Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy(FTIR),Scanning Electron Microscope coupled with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy(SEM-EDS),29Si magic angle spinning-nuclear magnetic resonance(29Si MAS-NMR),and 27Al MAS-NMR.The experimental results indicate that changes in the mass ratio of sodium hydroxide and GVS and curing temperature have the most significant influence on the flexural strength and compressive strength,respectively.The GVS-based geopolymer can obtain the highest 28-day compressive strength and 28-day flexural strength up to 75.6 MPa and 6.3 MPa.Microstructural results imply that the changes of Si occurring in a variety of environments that explaining preliminarily about the reaction mechanism of GVS-based geopolymer.This study approves the feasibility of making a geopolymer derived from the GVS lunar regolith simulant and the potential utilization of geopolymer based on lunar regolith for construction of the lunar colony in future space exploration.

模拟月壤研究进展及CUG-1A模拟月壤

利用我国东北部吉林省辉南县新生代火山岩为初始原料,初步研制了模拟月壤CUG-1A。在研究CUG-1A的化学性质的同时,重点研究了其物理力学性质。数据分析表明,CUG-1A与Apollo14采样点的月壤样品有着相似的化学成分、矿物组成和物理力学性质,是一种理想的低钛型月海月壤的模拟样品。

铲挖式表层月壤采样器设计与试验

针对月球表层土壤的采样任务,设计了一种搭载于机械臂末端的采样器。基于离散元手段,利用Scott真实月壤微型三轴压缩试验数据,完成仿真散体颗粒特性参数匹配,开展了采样器铲取、挖取采样过程的仿真分析,获得作业过程采样器的动力学特性。此外,开发了采样器性能测试系统,针对不同模拟月壤对象进行了采样试验,测试获得了采样器采样能力随深度及月壤硬度的变化情况,得到采样器操作参数的可行区域。采样器能够实现铲取、挖取和封装容器转移多重任务,研究工作为中国未来的月面采样任务提供方案借鉴和技术支撑。

月尘/月壤环境效应地面模拟方法研究

月壤/月尘会附着并污染航天器、月球车的表面,如果不及时清除,还会进一步诱发部件过热、机械机构卡死、密封失效、材料磨损等一系列问题．本文综述了关于月尘特性、月尘与航天器系统的互相作用机理、月尘环境模拟方法等方面的研究成果,提出了一种小型月尘环境模拟系统的设计方案．该系统将使关于月尘特性的实验研究成为可能,并可作为登月飞船及月球车材料选择、机械机构可靠性试验、除尘策略试验的平台．

月球车驱动轮在不同介质上的牵引性能

在月壤-车轮土槽测试系统上对月球车驱动轮在不同介质条件下的牵引性能进行了试验研究。试验结果表明:当滑转率在0～80%时,挂钩牵引力和效率系数呈现增加趋势,压实2次和4次的模拟月壤分别比自然状态时最大挂钩牵引力提高了38.9%和66.7%,最大效率系数提高了69.9%和171.6%。水泥路面的牵引性能要高于模拟月壤上的牵引性能,且当滑转率为20%时,驱动轮在水泥路面上的挂钩牵引力为其在模拟月壤上的8.2倍。驱动轮在模拟月壤和石英砂上的牵引性能相似,前者略好于后者,当滑转率为10%时,挂钩牵引力分别为36.8N和33.1N。

TJ-1模拟月壤的研制

以吉林省靖宇县境内的红色火山灰为原材料,将其烘干、粉碎、筛分后通过调整级配,力学试验成功研制出了Tongji-1(简称TJ-1)模拟月壤。测试了TJ-1模拟月壤的矿物成分、颗粒形态、比重、内摩擦角、黏聚力、压缩指数、动剪模量、阻尼比及吸湿性能等,并将TJ-1模拟月壤与月壤以及国际上已有模拟月壤的物理力学特性进行了对比分析。结果表明:TJ-1模拟月壤的物理力学特性在月壤的范围之内,可模拟月壤的基本力学特性;且与其他模拟月壤相比,具有级配稳定,较大孔隙比时抗剪强度高的特点。

非均匀月壤介质的被动微波辐射传输模拟

基于非均匀月壤物理模型和辐射传输方程,模拟月壤介质中的微波辐射传输特性,探讨频率、月壤厚度等与月表亮温的关系。结果表明:在低频段,月壤微波辐射亮温的动态变化范围较大,可探测的月壤厚度大,3 GHz时的最大可探测月壤厚度达12.4 m;在高频段对应的可探测月壤厚度较小,特别是从50GHz往后的频率段内,最大可探测月壤厚度均小于2 m。不同频率的亮温-厚度变化曲线没有交叉点,且频率越高,所能探测的月壤厚度越小。根据模拟结果,建立了月壤厚度与亮温的查找表。基于查找表,利用单个波段的亮温数据即可得到月壤厚度信息。

月壤工程地质特性综述

根据国内外的最新研究成果,综述了近年来月壤工程地质力学特性研究的新进展.首先简述了月壤的矿物特征与化学成分,分析了月壤的级配、颗粒形态与孔隙率等物理性质;然后总结了月壤的变形特性与强度特征,阐述了目前模拟月壤的主要类别,及其内摩擦角、弹性参数等力学参数的研究成果;最后指出月壤研究中存在的问题,即模拟月壤试验必须注意环境变量(如弱重力)及化学成分对于工程地质性质的影响,同时应加强对月壤动力性质方面的研究.

月球表面微波主被动遥感的建模模拟与反演

探测月球和其它外星球是我国空间遥感与深空探测的又一轮新课题。研究地球遥感中星载被动遥感辐射计、主动遥感高分辨率合成孔径雷达等如何应用于月球和其它外星球的探测是一项十分有意义的工作。了解月球表层的月壤与月岩的物质状态及其分布,对于月球资源的科学认识、以及未来月球探测、登月与月球开发,以及其它外星球探测均具有十分重要的意义。先讨论微波被动遥感月球表面辐射的模拟和由微波辐射反演月壤厚度。由月球表面数字高程和月壤厚度实测点数据建立月球表面高度与月壤厚度的一种对应关系,构造整个月球表面月壤厚度的试验性分布。根据克莱门汀的紫外可见光光学数据,计算整个月球表面月壤中FeO+TiO2含量分布,给出整个月球表面月壤介电常数分布。由月球表层温度的观测结果以及月壤的导热特性,给出月尘层与月壤层温度随纬度分布的经验公式。在这些条件基础上,建立月尘、月壤、月岩3层微波热辐射模型。由起伏逸散定理,模拟计算月壤低耗散介质层多通道辐射亮度温度。以此辐射亮度温度模拟加随机噪声为理论观测值,按3层模型提出月壤层厚度反演方法。由于高频通道穿透深度小,由高频通道的辐射亮度温度按照两层月尘—月壤微波热辐射模型反演月尘层与月壤层的物理温度。并以此为已知参数,由穿透深度较大的低频通道的辐射亮度温度反演月壤层厚度,对于反演的相对误差也进行了讨论。在研究微波主动遥感方面,提出低空飞行全极化L波段雷达窄脉冲探测月壤层厚与层结构的建议。此时采用一层具有上下随机粗糙界面的有耗介质层月壤层模型,在下垫月岩粗糙界面上有一层随机分布的碎石散射体。推导了包含面散射、体散射,以及面体相互作用7种散射机制的全极化脉冲波Mueller矩阵解。以月壤特征参数(月壤层厚、FeO+TiO2金属含量、介电常数,界面粗糙度、碎石分布等)为函数,用时域Mueller矩阵解数值模拟来验证方法可行性。L波段窄脉冲极化回波波形能用于反演或估算月壤厚度与分层结构。