Pratnekar, Marko, Garg, Vivek ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8515-4759, Kaur, Baldeep ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1762-3058, Bradley, Michael and Cullen, David (2025) Proposal of a new category of lunar regolith simulants: reduced particle-density simulants that exhibit equivalent self-weight in Earth gravity to native regolith in lunar gravity. Acta Astronautica. ISSN 0094-5765 (Print), 1879-2030 (Online) (doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.06.056)

Preview

PDF (Open Access Pre-proof) 50748 GARG_Proposal_Of_A_New_Category_Of_Lunar_Regolith_Simulants_(OA)_2025.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Current “normal density” lunar regolith simulants used in Earth gravity can be viewed as a poor replication of bulk material handling behaviour of lunar regolith in lunar gravity. The six-times greater self-weight of such normal simulants on Earth compared to the Moon can be the viewed as the underlying cause. The use of such normal simulants in Earth gravity as part of technology development for lunar use may fail to adequately predict lunar behaviour and result in sub-optimal outcomes. This paper proposes a new class of reduced self-weight lunar regolith simulants to minimise this issue. The current work elaborates the case for this new class of lunar regolith simulants with reduced particle density of one-sixth native lunar regolith resulting in reduced self-weight. To justify further this approach a series of studies are reported to highlight the expected differences between the current and proposed simulant uses. First, analytical arguments are used based around Jenike theory and the concept of Bond Number to highlight expected differences. Second, Discrete Element Method simulation is used show the expected difference in behaviour between the two simulants classes. Third, a laboratory breadboarded discharge hopper is used to demonstrate behaviour differences between normal and reduced self-weight stimulants. Additionally, a list of requirements for such reduced self-weight simulants is proposed. The work concludes that the proposed new class of reduced particle density lunar simulants appears to have value and should be further pursued by the relevant communities.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	materials handling, lunar, bulk materials, reduced gravity, regolith simulants, reduced-density simulants, discrete element method, discharge hopper
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General) T Technology > T Technology (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science Faculty of Engineering & Science > School of Engineering (ENG) Faculty of Engineering & Science > Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology
Last Modified:	27 Jun 2025 16:39
URI:	https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/50748

Actions (login required)

View Item

Downloads