Comparison of Compaction Techniques on Lunar Highland Regolith Simulant

Abstract

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is preparing to deploy astronauts for detailed exploration of the lunar South Pole, an area primarily composed of lunar highlands regolith. A comprehensive understanding of the composition, properties, and behavior of this surface material is critical to the success of the mission, to advancing the field of lunar exploration research, and future endeavors on the Moon. This study showcases the findings from laboratory tests conducted using a scaled-down model of two types of compaction equipment: a vibrating smooth drum roller (VSDR) and a rolling dynamic compaction (RDC) 4-sided impact roller. The experiments were performed using 1:13 scale models and utilized lunar highland simulant as the test material. Surface settlements, earth pressure cells, and densities were measured to quantify the extent of improvement for these two different compaction techniques. The results indicate that the vibrating smooth drum roller technique outperforms the impact roller in surface settlement, density, earth pressure and acceleration, demonstrating superior performance in compacting lunar highland regolith simulant.