AbstractChina's Chang’e lunar exploration project aims to sample and return lunar regolith samples at a minimum penetration depth of 2m in 2017. Unlike such tasks on the Earth, automated drilling and sampling missions on the Moon are more complicated. Therefore, a delicately designed drill tool is required to minimize operational cost and enhance reliability. Penetration force and rotational torque are two critical parameters in designing the drill tool. In this paper, a novel numerical model for predicting penetration force and rotational torque in the drilling of lunar regolith is proposed. The model is based on quasi-static Mohr-Coulomb soil mechanics and explicitly describes the interaction between drill tool and lunar regolith. Geometric features of drill tool, mechanical properties of lunar regolith, and drilling parameters are taken into consideration in the model. Consequently, a drilling test bed was developed, and experimental penetration force and rotational torque were obtained in penetrating a lunar regolith simulant with different drilling parameters. Finally, theoretical and experimental results were compared to validate the proposed model. Experimental results indicated that the numerical model had good accuracy and was effective in predicting the penetration force and rotational torque in drilling the lunar regolith simulant.
HighlightsA model for predicting the drilling forces in lunar regolith is proposed.The model describes the interaction between drill tool and lunar regolith.A test bed is developed to validate the model in drilling a lunar soil simulant.Experiment results show that the model is effective in predicting drilling forces.
Drilling forces model for lunar regolith exploration and experimental validation
Acta Astronautica ; 131 ; 190-203
2016-11-15
14 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Drilling forces model for lunar regolith exploration and experimental validation
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