Study on the Pressure-Sinkage Relationship of Lunar Soil Simulant

Abstract

The lunar surface is covered with the deposit of regolith which is loose and dry powder. In the earth condition, the mechanical properties of lunar soil simulant from eruption powder will greatly influence the precision and reliability of the rover test results. This article measures the parameters by means of the vertical load which is representing the pressure generated by vehicle wheel, and the formula of vertical pressure-sinkage relationship: p=[kс/b+kφ]*zn. It was discussed that the value of n, kс, kφ changed under three different velocities and four different radiuses of circular plates. Because these parameters are sensitive to bulk density of lunar soil simulant, the paper could only discuss the range of kсkφ and n, and the results of the measurement are n= 0.698~ 1.123, kс= 0.524~ 5.928, kφ= 0.124~ 1.926. The lunar soil will make the poor trafficability for lunar rover. This article could provide basis and criterion for evaluation rover behavior at the surface of moon and design the wheel parameters of lunar rover.