Development and Properties of Alternative Thailand Lunar Simulant (TLS-01A)
Publication: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 36, Issue 1
Abstract
As the goal of returning to the Moon and building a lunar colony becomes more prominent within the space industry, research and experiments in lunar exploration and establishment are steadily increasing. Among the many resources required for lunar-centric research, lunar simulant is one of the most vital, with multiple uses across various fields, such as engineering, chemistry, and biology. This study focuses on the development of the alternative Thailand lunar simulant 01 (TLS-01A), which utilizes raw material sourced from locally available mines in the Chanthaburi-Trat area in Thailand. This simulant was processed using simpler methods than the previously developed Thailand Lunar Simulant (TLS-01) and was geared towards small-scale production. First, production began with the selection of the basaltic rock raw materials sites. Then, we ground the raw material into finer sizes to replicate the lunar regolith. Next, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to analyze grain morphology. Geochemical properties were determined using wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Finally, direct shear tests were conducted to analyze the physical properties of the simulants. The processed simulant was found to exhibit rough and sharp edges, while its friction angle and cohesion value were 29° and 3.05 kPa, respectively, which are in line with well-established lunar simulants.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The research fund supported this research, experimental facilities, and materials from Space Zab Company Limited (Thailand), Navapaisarnsilatrat Company Limited (Thailand), and Kanjana Concrete Company Limited (Thailand). The authors also would like to acknowledge Dr. Puey Ounjai and Ponlawoot Raksat from the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, as well as Associate Prof. Dr. Suttisak Soralump from the Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand, for their support and advice on this study.
References
Anand, M., L. A. Taylor, K. C. Misra, S. I. Demidova, and M. A. Nazarov. 2003. “KREEPy lunar meteorite Dhofar 287A: A new lunar mare basalt.” Meteorit. Planet. Sci. 38 (4): 485–499. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1945-5100.2003.tb00022.x.
ASTM. 2011. Standard test method for direct shear test of soils under consolidated drained conditions. ASTM D3080/D3080M-11. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM. https://doi.org/10.1520/D3080-04.
Boonsoong, A. 2007. “Petrography and geochemistry of the Chanthaburi—Trat Basalt Thailand.” In Proc., Int. Conf. on Geology Thailand towards Sustainable Development and Sufficiency Economy (GEOTHAI ’07), edited by W. Tantiwanit, 242–250. Bangkok, Thailand: Dept. Mineral Resources.
Carr, M. H., and C. E. Meyer. 1974. “The regolith at the Apollo 15 site and its stratigraphic implications.” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 38 (7): 1183–1197. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(74)90012-X.
Carrier, I., G. R. Olhoeft, and W. Mendell. 1991. “Physical properties of the lunar surface.” Chap. 9 in Lunar sourcebook: A user’s guide to the moon, 475–594. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Carrier, W., J. K. Mitchell, and A. Mahmood. 1973. “The nature of lunar soil.” J. Soil Mech. Found. Div. 99 (10): 813–832. https://doi.org/10.1061/JSFEAQ.0001935.
Chang, I., B. H. Ryn, and G. C. Cho. 2014. “Development of a Korean Lunar Simulant (KLS-1) and its possible further recommendations.” In Proc., American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting. Washington, DC: American Geophysical Union. https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm14/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/11857.
Duncan, A., A. Erlank, J. Willis, M. Sher, and L. Ahrens. 1974. “Trace element evidence for a two-stage origin of some titaniferous mare basalts.” In Vol. 2 of Proc., 5th Lunar Science Conf., 1147–1157. Oxford, UK: Pergamon Press.
Duncan, A. R., A. J. Erlank, J. P. Willis, and L. H. Ahrens. 1973. “Composition and inter-relationships of some Apollo 16 samples.” In Proc., 4th Lunar Science Conf, 1097–1113. Houston: Lunar and Planetary Institute.
Engelschiøn, V. S., S. R. Eriksson, A. Cowley, M. Fateri, A. Meurisse, U. Kueppers, and M. Sperl. 2020. “EAC-1A: A novel large-volume lunar regolith stimulant.” Sci. Rep. 10 (1): 5473. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-62312-4.
Goulas, A., J. G. Binner, D. S. Engstrøm, R. A. Harris, and R. J. Friel. 2019. “Mechanical behaviour of additively manufactured lunar regolith simulant components.” Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng., Part L: J. Mater.: Des. Appl. 233 (8): 1629–1644. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464420718777932.
Kanamori, H., S. Udagawa, T. Yoshida, S. Matsumoto, and K. Takagi. 1998. “Properties of lunar soil simulant manufactured in Japan.” In Proc., Space 98: 6th ASCE Specialty Conf. and Exposition on Engineering, Construction, and Operations, edited by G. J. Taylor and L. L. Wilkening, 462–468. Reston, VA: ASCE. https://doi.org/10.1061/40339(206)53.
Kordesh, K., and A. Basu. 1982. “Roundness and sphericity of clasts in meteorites, lunar soil breccia and lunar soils.” In Proc., Workshop on Lunar Breccias and Soils and Their Meteoritic Analogs, edited by R. G. Galloway and S. Lokaj. Houston: Lunar and Planetary Institute.
Le Maitre, R. W., A. Streckeisen, B. Zanettin, M. J. Le Bas, B. Bonin, and P. Bateman. 2002. Igneous rocks: A classification and glossary of terms: Recommendations of the international union of geological sciences subcommission on the systematics of igneous rocks. Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press.
Maxwell, J. A., L. C. Peck, and H. B. Wiik. 1970. “Chemical composition of Apollo 11 lunar samples 10017, 10020, 10072 and 10084.” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 34 (S1): 1369.
Maxwell, J. A., and H. B. Wiik. 1971. “Chemical composition of Apollo 12 lunar samples 12004, 12033, 12051, 12052 and 12065.” Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 10 (3): 285–288. https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-821X(71)90032-X.
McDonough, S. 1995. “The composition of the earth.” Chem. Geol. 120 (3–4): 223–253. https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2541(94)00140-4.
McKay, D. S., J. L. Carter, W. W. Boles, C. C. Allen, and J. H. Allton. 1993. “JSC-1: A new lunar regolith simulant.” In Proc., Abstracts of the 24th Lunar and Planetary Science Conf. 963–964. Houston: Lunar and Planetary Institute.
Meurisse, A., and J. Carpenter. 2020. “Past, present and future rationale for space resource utilization.” Planet. Space Sci. 182 (Mar): 104853. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2020.104853.
Meyer, C. 2003. “NASA lunar petrographic educational thin section set.” Accessed September 1, 2013. https://curator.jsc.nasa.gov/education/lpetss/documents/cmeyer_booklet2003.pdf.
Meyer, C. 2004. “15425–15427, 15365–15377: Green glass clods (draft).” In Lunar sample compendium. Houston: NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.
Mitchell, J. K., L. G. Bromwell, W. D. Carrier, N. C. Costes, and R. F. Scott. 1972. “Soil mechanical properties at the Apollo 14 site.” J. Geophys. Res. 77 (29): 5641–5664. https://doi.org/10.1029/JB077i029p05641.
Monkul, M. M., and A. Dacic. 2017. “Effect of grain size distribution on stress-strain behavior of lunar soil stimulants.” Adv. Space Res. 60 (3): 636–651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2017.04.029.
Otto, H., K. Kerst, C. Roloff, G. Janiga, and A. Katterfeld. 2018. “CFD–DEM simulation and experimental investigation of the flow behavior of lunar regolith JSC-1A.” Particuology 40 (Oct): 34–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2017.12.003.
Papike, J., L. Taylor, and S. Simon. 1991. “Lunar minerals”. In Lunar sourcebook, edited by G. H. Heiken, D. T. Vaniman, and B. M. French. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Russell, R. D., and R. E. Taylor. 1937. “Roundness and shape of Mississippi River sands.” J. Geol. 45 (3): 225–267. https://doi.org/10.1086/624526.
Schrader, C. M., D. L. Rickman, C. A. McLemore, and J. C. Fikes. 2010. Lunar regolith simulant user’s guide. Washington, DC: NASA.
Seehanam, S., S. Santironnarong, W. Meesuay, S. Soralump, W. Thowiwat, S. Jitklongsub, and W. Chancharoen. 2021. “Development and mechanical properties of the first Thailand lunar regolith simulant (TLS-01).” In Proc., 2nd Aviation and Aerospace Industry Int. Conf. Bangkok, Thailand: King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang and National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand. https://doi.org/10.3390/IAAI-2021-10583.
Simon, S. B., J. J. Papike, D. C. Gosselin, and J. C. Laul. 1986. “Petrology, chemistry and origin of Apollo 15 regolith breccias.” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 50 (12): 2675–2691. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(86)90218-8.
Stanley, K. O. 1977. “Sedimentary rocks. By F. J. Pettijohn.” J. Geol. 85 (3): 379. https://doi.org/10.1086/628307.
Wadell, H. 1935. “Volume, shape, and roundness of quartz particles.” J. Geol. 43 (3): 250–280. https://doi.org/10.1086/624298.
Walker, D., J. Longhi, E. M. Stolper, T. L. Grove, and J. F. Hays. 1975. “Origin of titaniferous lunar basalts.” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 39 (9): 1219–1235. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(75)90129-5.
Warner, R., K. Keil, M. Prinz, J. Laul, A. Murali, and R. Schmitt. 1975. “Mineralogy, petrology, and chemistry of mare basalts from Apollo 17 rake samples.” In Proc., 6th Lunar Science Conf., 193–220. New York: Pergamon Press.
Wiik, H. B., J. A. Maxwell, and J.-L. Bouvier. 1973. “Chemical composition of some Apollo 14 lunar samples.” Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 17 (2): 365–368. https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-821X(73)90201-X.
Willman, B. M., W. W. Boles, D. S. McKay, and C. C. Allen. 1995. “Properties of lunar soil simulant JSC-1.” J. Aerosp. Eng. 8 (2): 77–87. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0893-1321(1995)8:2(77).
Zellner, N. E. B., J. W. Delano, T. D. Swindle, F. Barra, E. Olsen, and D. C. B. Whittet. 2009. “Apollo 17 regolith, 71501,262: A record of impact events and mare volcanism in lunar glasses.” Meteorit. Planet. Sci. 44 (6): 839–851. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1945-5100.2009.tb00772.x.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 36 • Issue 1 • January 2023
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 29, 2021
Accepted: Jul 5, 2022
Published online: Oct 19, 2022
Published in print: Jan 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Mar 19, 2023
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.