Evaluation of a Biopolymer-Bound Soil Composite for 3D Printing on the Lunar Surface
Publication: Earth and Space 2021
ABSTRACT
Establishing infrastructure on the lunar surface requires construction materials and methods that are appropriate for the Moon’s remote and austere environment. Construction approaches that maximize the use of the Moon’s in situ resources along with in-space manufacturing technologies provide benefits to long-duration exploration compared to other construction approaches that require greater material transport or prefabrication. These benefits include reduced launch mass, increased infrastructure flexibility, and greater potential for repair and reconfiguration. This paper evaluates a novel bio-composite material, biopolymer-bound soil composite (BSC) for additive construction (3D printing) applications. The use of the BSC’s rheological and strength properties to predict shape stability and rate of structural buildup are discussed. These material attributes dictate the building time and maximum size of the lunar projects, as well as the required capabilities of the automated construction systems used to build an autonomously constructed facility. Preliminary results of rheological and strength testing experiments are included in this paper as a first attempt to begin understanding the properties of the extruded BSC.
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Earth and Space 2021
Pages: 36 - 51
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© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Published online: Apr 15, 2021
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