Abstract
This article presents the design of a spiral sampling device to perform lunar soil sampling and packaging, considering the special lunar environment and the physical and mechanical properties of the lunar soil. Combining the mechanical properties of lunar soil and the geometrical characteristics of the sampling device, the contact model between particles and the contact parameters between device and particles were adjusted. Through a discrete element simulation of the sampling process, the particles’ streamline, which is between the screw conveying modules and the sampling bailer, is derived. This result provides a theoretical foundation for the structural optimization of the device. Finally, a sampling experiment in simulated lunar soil verifies the feasibility of the sampling device.
Highlights
Human demand for extraterrestrial resources is becoming increasingly urgent, which makes space exploration technology accelerate toward greater specialization and complexity
The sample weight increases until it reaches stability at 175 s, which proves that the spiral of the gathering module can collect lunar soil efficiently and the lunar soil sample can be transferred into the collecting container to finish packaging
A design of a soil sampling device specific to lunar topsoil based on screw conveying was introduced to complete the task of lunar soil sampling
Summary
Human demand for extraterrestrial resources is becoming increasingly urgent, which makes space exploration technology accelerate toward greater specialization and complexity. The soil sampling device based on screw conveying is characterized by its simple structure and low power consumption It can complete screening, collecting, compacting, and sealing efficiently, which makes it more suitable for soil sampling in the complex lunar environment. Since there is no Hysteretic spring model in EDEM, the Hertz-Mindlin (no slip) model is chosen to depict the contact state between lunar soil particles. Based on the above analysis, the flow state, movement direction, and accumulation effect of lunar soil particles are obtained by simulation. V Feed speed, n Rolling friction coefficient between particles, f1 Rolling friction coefficient between particles and equipment, f2 Friction coefficient between particles and equipment (shell), f3 Friction coefficient between particles and equipment (rotator), f4
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