Lunar Regolith Consolidation Caused by the Thawing of Water Ice

초록

This paper investigates the potential impact of lunar regolith consolidation when regolith simulant mixed with differing quantities of water ice particles is thawed. The impact of consolidation on critical civil infrastructure on Earth caused by the thawing of water ice within soil changes the stresses within the soil and has resulted in the failure of buildings and roadways and irreversible environmental damage. Similarly, consolidation of lunar regolith can impact the stability of rocket launch/landing pads and other critical lunar infrastructure, which has the potential to result in catastrophic incidents. Thawing of the lunar water ice, resulting from direct or indirect heating and exposure due to human-related lunar activities, has the ability to cause lunar regolith consolidation. This paper performs consolidation tests using regolith simulant containing 0%, 1%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% water ice contents by weight under two continuous overburden loading conditions. Tests were performed at normal atmospheric pressure with ice melting to water when thawed. Consolidation test results indicate that discrete water ice concentrations of 1 wt % in regolith-water can have a significant impact on the stability of lunar regolith when water ice is thawed. Furthermore, regolith containing discrete water ice with 20-25 wt % will consolidate by roughly 50% of the original volume when water is thawed. The intent of this analysis was to provide an initial indication of the extent of lunar simulant consolidation when discrete water ice thaws. Further testing is needed to determine the consolidation of lunar regolith when discrete water ice sublimates in lunar conditions. © 2025 International Astronautical Federation, IAF. All rights reserved.

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