Discrete Element Modeling of Strength Properties of Johnson Space Center (JSC-1A) Lunar Regolith Simulant
Publication: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 23, Issue 3
Abstract
This paper simulates the three-dimensional axisymmetric triaxial compression of JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant under lunar and terrestrial gravity environments under a wide range of confining pressures and relative densities. To accomplish this, the discrete element method (DEM), using Particle Flow Code In Three-Dimensional (PFC3D) software, was employed. The paper focuses on the peak and the critical state (CS) friction angles, which were predicted in the ranges of 35.4°–82.7° and 31.2°–79.8°, respectively, depending on the specimen density and confining pressure. A significant increase in peak and CS friction angles was predicted at near-zero confining pressure. The DEM results validated an empirical model that relates the peak friction angle with the CS friction angle, relative density, and mean effective stress at the CS. Comparison of DEM results with lunar in situ measurements of friction angle, from Apollo missions and other extraterrestrial laboratory experiments under a microgravity environment, shows a favorable agreement.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The writers would like to acknowledge the financial support provided by the Louisiana Board of Regents–Louisiana Space Consortium under Contract No. UNSPECIFIEDNASA/LEQSF(2006)-DART-22.
References
Alshibli, K. A., Batiste, S. N., and Sture, S. (2003). “Strain localization in sand: Plane strain versus triaxial compression.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 129(6), 483–494.
Alshibli, K. A., and Hasan, A. (2009). “Strength properties of JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 135(5), 673–679.
ASTM. (2006a). “Standard test methods for specific gravity of soil solids by water pycnometer.” D854-06e1, West Conshohocken, Pa.
ASTM. (2006b). “Standard test methods for maximum index density and unit weight of soils using a vibratory table.” D4253-00, West Conshohocken, Pa.
ASTM. (2006c). “Standard test methods for minimum index density and unit weight of soils and calculation of relative density.” D4254-00, West Conshohocken, Pa.
ASTM. (2007). “Standard test method for particle-size analysis of soils.” D422-63, West Conshohocken, Pa.
ASTM. (2009). “Standard terminology relating to soil, rock, and contained fluids.” D653-09, West Conshohocken, Pa.
Bishop, A. W. (1972). Stress-strain behavior of soils, R. H. Parry, ed., Foulis, London.
Bolton, M. D. (1986). “The strength and dilatancy of sands.” Geotechnique, 36(1), 65–78.
Carrier, W., Mitchell, J. K., and Mahmood, A. (1973). “The nature of lunar soil.” J. Soil Mech. and Found. Div., 99(SM10), 812–832.
Carrier, W. D., III. (1984). “Geotechnical implications for a lunar base.” Abstract in Papers Presented to the 1984 Symp. on Lunar Bases and Space Activities of the 21st Century, NASA, Washington, D.C., 75–76.
Costes, N. C., Carrier, W. D., Mitchell, J. K., and Scott, R. F. (1970). “Apollo 11: Soil mechanics results.” J. Soil Mech. and Found. Div., 96(SM6), 2045–2079.
Cui, L., O’Sullivan, C., and O’Neill, S. (2007). “An analysis of the triaxial apparatus using a mixed boundary three-dimensional discrete element model.” Geotechnique, 57(10), 831–844.
Cundall, P., and Strack, O. (1979). “A discrete numerical model for granular assemblies.” Geotechnique, 29(1), 47–65.
Heiken, G. H., Vaniman, D. T., and French, B. M. (1991). Lunar sourcebook: A user guide to the moon, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Klein, S. P., and White, B. R. (1988). “Dynamic shear of granular material under variable gravity conditions.” AIAA J., 28(10), 1701–1702.
Klosky, J. L., Sture, S., Ko, H. -Y., and Barnes, F. (2000). “Geotechnical behavior of JSC-1 lunar soil simulant.” J. Aerosp. Eng., 13(4), 133–138.
McKay, D., Carter, J., Boles, W., Allen, C., and Alton, J. (1993). “JSC-1: A new lunar soil simulant.” Proc., Space IV, Vol. 2, S. W. Johnson, ed., ASCE, New York.
Mitchell, J. K., et al. (1972a). “Soil mechanics.” Apollo 16 Preliminary Science Rep. No. NASA SP-315, NASA, Washington, D.C., 8.1–8.29.
Mitchell, J. K., Bromwell, L. G., Carrier, W. D., Costes, N. C., Houston, W. N., and Scott, R. F. (1972b). “Soil-mechanics experiments.” Apollo 15 Preliminary Science Rep. No. NASA SP-289, NASA, Washington, D.C., 7.1–7.28.
Mitchell, J. K., Bromwell, L. G., Carrier, W. D., Costes, N. C., and Scott, R. F. (1971). “Soil mechanics experiment.” Apollo 14 Preliminary Science Rep. No. NASA SP-272, NASA, Washington, D.C., 87–108.
Mitchell, J. K., Carrier, W. D., Costes, N. C., Houston, W. N., Scott, R. F., and Hovland, H. J. (1973). “Soil mechanics.” Apollo 17 Preliminary Science Rep. No. NASA SP-330, NASA, Washington, D.C., 8.1–8.22.
Mitchell, J. K., Houston, W. N., Scott, R. F., Costes, N. C., Carrier, W. D., and Bromwell, L. G. (1972c). “Mechanical properties of lunar soil: Density, porosity, cohesion, and angle of internal friction.” Proc., 3rd Lunar Science Conf., MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 3235–3253.
O’Sullivan, C., Bray, J., and Riemer, M. (2004). “Examination of the response of regularly packed specimens of spherical particles using physical tests and discrete element simulations.” J. Eng. Mech., 130(10), 1140–1150.
Orbitec. (2009). ⟨http://www.planet-llc.com/pages/store/simulant.htm⟩ (April 7, 2009).
Potyondy, D., and Cundall, P. (2004). “A bonded-particle model for rock.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 41, 1329–1364.
Powers, M. C. (1982). “Comparison chart for estimating roundness and sphericity.” AGI Data Sheets, American Geological Institute.
Scott, R. F., Carrier, W. D., Costes, N. C., and Mitchell, J. K. (1971). “Apollo 12 soil mechanics investigation.” Geotechnique, 21(1), 1–14.
Sture, S., et al. (1998). “Mechanics of granular materials at low effective stresses.” J. Aerosp. Eng., 11(3), 67–72.
Thornton, C. (2000). “Numerical simulations of deviatoric shear deformation of granular media.” Geotechnique, 50(1), 43–53.
Ting, J. M., and Corkum, B. T. (1988). “Strength behavior of granular materials using discrete numerical modelling.” Proc., 6th International Conf. on Numerical Methods in Geomechanics, Balkema, Rotterdam, Brookfield VT.
Walton, O. R., Moor, C. P., and Gill, K. S. (2007). “Effects of gravity on cohesive behavior of fine powders: Implications for processing lunar regolith.” Granular Matter, 9, 353–363.
Willman, B. M., Boles, W. W., McKay, D. S., and Allen, C. C. (1995). “Properties of lunar soil simulant JSC-1.” J. Aerosp. Eng., 8(2), 77–87.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 23 • Issue 3 • July 2010
Pages: 157 - 165
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Dec 7, 2008
Accepted: Jun 8, 2009
Published online: Jan 18, 2010
Published in print: Jul 2010
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.