Abstract
Constructing habitable load-bearing structures on lunar and martian surfaces presents unique challenges, such as the ability to sustain extreme thermal fluctuations and frequent dust storms. A promising paradigm for effecting construction is via in situ resource utilization (ISRU), combined with sintering, wherein locally available regolith is consolidated at high temperatures to make load-bearing structures. This work investigates one route for effecting sintering via intermediate melting of a constituent mineral, termed liquid state sintering, to enhance consolidation in lunar regolith simulants. We work primarily with lunar highland simulant (LHS-1), with supporting comparative investigations of lunar mare dust simulant (LMS-1) and martian global simulant (MGS-1). We first establish a liquid-state sintering protocol above the melting point of the constituent basalt using a combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and post-consolidation Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A numerical lattice-based model is used to explain several of the experimental observations, including complex pore-crack interactions in the consolidated bricks, potential strength anisotropy due to shrinkage, resulting crack patterns, and derive an exponential relation between strength and porosity.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
