Experimental Study of Bearing Behavior of TJ1 Lunar Soil Simulant Using Physical Model

Abstract:

The engineering properties of lunar regolith can be studied with the aid of the modern experimental technology, which is a practicable method to solve the problem of geotechnical engineering on the moon. The indoor physical model loading test is of great significance in studying soil bearing capacity. In this paper, the loading device with the loading rate controlled was designed. Then, indoor model loading tests were conducted on TJ1 lunar regolith simulant by using the circular loading plates with four different sizes. The results show that using the same loading plate, the ultimate bearing capacity and deformation modulus of TJ1 lunar regolith simulant increase with the loading rate. Using the same loading rate, the ultimate bearing capacity and deformation modulus of TJ1 lunar soil simulant increase with the loading plate size. In addition, the basal soil pressure at the center is the largest during loading.