Gas permeability and flow characterization of simulated lunar regolith

Recent discoveries of water ice trapped within lunar topsoil (regolith) have placed a new emphasis on the recovery and utilization of water for future space exploration. Upon heating the lunar ice to sublimation, the resulting water vapor could theoretically transmit through the lunar regolith, to be captured on the surface. As the permeability of lunar regolith is essential to this process, this paper seeks to experimentally determine the permeability and flow characteristics of various gas species through simulated lunar regolith (SLR). Two different types of SLR were compacted and placed into the permeability setup to measure the flow-rate of transmitted gas through the sample. Darcy’s permeability constant was calculated for each sample and gas combination, and flow characteristics were determined from the results. The results show that Darcy’s permeability constant varies with SLR compaction density, and identified no major difference in permeable flow between the several tested gas species. Between the two tested SLR types, JSC-1A was shown to be more permeable than NU-LHT under similar conditions. In addition, a transition zone was identified in the flow when the gas pressure differential across the sample was less than ∼40 kPa.     

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。