Tests on Effect of Gravity and Soil Density on Soil Cone Index

Abstract:

The cone index is one of the important indicators that can describe the comprehensive physical characteristics of lunar regolith. Its closely related to the sink and sideslip of lunar rover and also has widely used in prediction the trafficability, adhesion property, tractive performance of lunar rover. Based on component method, a kind of low gravity simulator, the tiltable test-bed has been built. This study has got the stable low gravity along axial direction and measured the penetration resistance characteristics of JLU-2 in different gravity through tests. The results shows that the gravity environment has an obvious impact on the cone index of lunar soil simulant, CI values reduce with the decreasing of gravity environment. Namely, in the low gravity condition, it shows weaker resistance ability for a foreign object to penetrate into. The result has important application value of prepare, optimize and risk assessment in walking mechanism of lunar rover and the sampling mechanism.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 774-776)
• Pages: 528-531
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.774-776.528
• Online since: September 2013
• Authors: Rui Yang Shi, Jian Qiao Li, Meng Zou, Ling He, Shi Chao Fan, Yan Jing Yang
• Keywords: Cone Index, Low Gravity, Lunar Soil Simulant, Penetration Resistance Test, Tiltable Test-Bed

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