High‐Fidelity Lunar Mare Agglutinates and Their Mechanical Effects on Lunar Regolith Simulants

Abstract

Lunar agglutinates, which are glass‐rich aggregates formed through space weathering, are a key constituent of lunar regolith and strongly influence its engineering properties. This study develops a high‐fidelity agglutinate simulant via high‐temperature vacuum sintering, yielding particle morphology and chemical composition similar to those of Chang'e‐5 samples. The effects of key sintering parameters, including temperature, binder fraction, structural support agent content, and dwell time, on the microstructure and single‐particle compression strength are investigated. Furthermore, a new lunar regolith simulant (WHU‐1A) is produced by incorporating different agglutinates, and its mechanical response is assessed through angle‐of‐repose and small‐scale triaxial tests. The results demonstrate that, under controlled density conditions, agglutinate characteristics significantly influence regolith mechanical behavior. Weakly bonded agglutinates induce a limited increase in shear strength, whereas extensively melted agglutinates markedly enhance shear strength but also promote strain softening. This coupled strengthening–softening effect is most pronounced in specimens with high glass content.