To provide a basic model for future lunar explorations, the compressional (P) and shear (S) wave velocity profiles in the shallow lunar subsurface are deduced from the velocities in a lunar soil simulant called FJS-1. The P-wave and S-wave velocities in several types of samples derived from FJS-1 were measured by laboratory bender element tests to examine the effect of confining stress, void ratio, and fine fraction content. Because of its high fine fraction content, FJS-1 exhibited remarkably lower velocities than other materials, although they were similar in terms of dependence of the confining stress and void ratio. Based on the test results, empirical equations for deriving the velocities of FJS-1 were proposed as functions of confining stress and void ratio. The equations were then used to deduce the P-wave and S-wave velocities in the shallow lunar subsurface. Two sets of continuous velocity profiles up to a depth of 60 m were estimated and found to be in agreement with existing velocity data derived from both measurement and estimation.
Velocity Profiles in the Shallow Lunar Subsurface Deduced from Laboratory Measurements with Simulants
Journal of Aerospace Engineering ; 29 , 5
2016-06-02
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
Unknown
NTRS | 2018
|SAE Technical Papers | 1994
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