Highlights Critical analysis of lunar dust’s erosive and abrasive interaction with materials. Capabilities and limitations of existing experimental setups. Identification of knowledge gap in testing and analysis of wear by lunar dust. Suggestions to improve testing of prospective materials in the space environment.
Abstract Lunar exploration has emerged as an exciting area for the scientific community and aerospace industries. However, the lunar environment presents daunting challenges, including extreme temperatures, high vacuum conditions, and sharp abrasive lunar regolith. Past explorations have demonstrated that the lunar regolith is particularly difficult to contend with, as its abrasive and erosive nature damages equipment and rover due to wear. Herein, an assessment is made on the tribological performance of key structural and optical components used in space vehicles, rovers, and on-field equipment operating in the lunar regolith environment. The evolution of erosive and abrasive test equipment, its benefits, limitations, and simulant characteristics, such as particle morphology and size, are examined on different materials' impact and abrasive wear. Abrasive and erosive wear mechanisms are elucidated based on regolith particle impact velocity, impact angle (erosion), regolith morphology, and particle size (abrasion). The lack of research on how temperature affects the wear behavior of materials under lunar regolith represents a significant gap in current knowledge. By identifying these gaps and providing alternative pathways, this critique can guide researchers in developing effective dust mitigation strategies and advancing the testing and analysis of prospective space materials.
Recent trends in tribological performance of aerospace materials in lunar regolith environment – A critical review
Advances in Space Research ; 73 , 1 ; 846-869
2023-10-24
24 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
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