Geomechanical properties of lunar regolith simulants LHS-1 and LMS-1

The geomechanical properties of mineralogically accurate lunar regolith simulants LHS-1 and LMS-1 are quantified and compared to published properties of lunar highlands and mare regolith, respectively, as well as to previously developed lunar simulants. Properties investigated include mineralogical and chemical composition, particle size distribution, density, shear strength, angle of repose, mass flow rates, and abrasivity. Results of data collection and analysis show that LHS-1 and LMS-1 are appropriate analogs for lunar regolith in terrestrial studies in the absence of returned lunar regolith and are preferable to non-mineralogically accurate simulants. Due to the mineralogy-based design philosophy, LHS-1 and LMS-1 naturally provide a good approximation of lunar regolith geochemistry and geomechanics that is suitable for studies in resource evaluation, acquisition, and extraction, mobility and optics, infrastructure develop-ment, and remote sensing.(c) 2023 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The geomechanical properties of mineralogically accurate lunar regolith simulants LHS-1 and LMS-1 are quantified and compared. Results show that LHS-1 and LMS-1 are suitable for terrestrial studies in the absence of actual lunar regolith and are preferable to non-mineralogically accurate simulants. Their mineralogy-based design provides a good approximation of lunar regolith geochemistry and geomechanics, making them suitable for various research purposes.