Experimental Study of Torque Using a Small Scoop on the Lunar Surface

Chinese missions to the moon are planned to sample the regolith and return it to the earth. Microscale excavators may be good candidates for these missions, as they would significantly reduce the launch mass. Thus, it is necessary to research the interaction between the scoop and the regolith being...

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Main Authors: Long Xue, Baichao Chen, Zhenjia Zhao, Zhaolong Dang, Meng Zou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:International Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/8035456
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author Long Xue
Baichao Chen
Zhenjia Zhao
Zhaolong Dang
Meng Zou
author_facet Long Xue
Baichao Chen
Zhenjia Zhao
Zhaolong Dang
Meng Zou
author_sort Long Xue
collection DOAJ
description Chinese missions to the moon are planned to sample the regolith and return it to the earth. Microscale excavators may be good candidates for these missions, as they would significantly reduce the launch mass. Thus, it is necessary to research the interaction between the scoop and the regolith being sampled. We present the development of a simple apparatus to measure excavation torque. All tests were conducted using TYII-2 regolith simulant with gravels. The test results show that, under loose regolith conditions, the penetrating angle and the bulk density had a great influence on the excavation torque, while the rotating speed had little effect. However, when the bulk density was compact, the rotating speed did influence the excavation torque. The excavation torque increased sharply when the scoop encountered the gravels; actually, some of the parameters will influence the value of the torque such as the diameter, quantity, and position and inbuilt depth of the gravels. When the excavation torque sharply increases, the operation should be immediately stopped and checked.
format Article
id doaj-art-5f8cc24e4120464c8e6c09651519cc4b
institution Kabale University
issn 1687-5966
1687-5974
language English
publishDate 2016-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series International Journal of Aerospace Engineering
spelling doaj-art-5f8cc24e4120464c8e6c09651519cc4b2025-08-20T03:34:22ZengWileyInternational Journal of Aerospace Engineering1687-59661687-59742016-01-01201610.1155/2016/80354568035456Experimental Study of Torque Using a Small Scoop on the Lunar SurfaceLong Xue0Baichao Chen1Zhenjia Zhao2Zhaolong Dang3Meng Zou4Key Laboratory for Bionics Engineering of Education Ministry, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, ChinaInstitute of Spacecraft System Engineering, China Academy of Space Technology, Beijing 100083, ChinaKey Laboratory for Bionics Engineering of Education Ministry, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, ChinaInstitute of Spacecraft System Engineering, China Academy of Space Technology, Beijing 100083, ChinaKey Laboratory for Bionics Engineering of Education Ministry, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, ChinaChinese missions to the moon are planned to sample the regolith and return it to the earth. Microscale excavators may be good candidates for these missions, as they would significantly reduce the launch mass. Thus, it is necessary to research the interaction between the scoop and the regolith being sampled. We present the development of a simple apparatus to measure excavation torque. All tests were conducted using TYII-2 regolith simulant with gravels. The test results show that, under loose regolith conditions, the penetrating angle and the bulk density had a great influence on the excavation torque, while the rotating speed had little effect. However, when the bulk density was compact, the rotating speed did influence the excavation torque. The excavation torque increased sharply when the scoop encountered the gravels; actually, some of the parameters will influence the value of the torque such as the diameter, quantity, and position and inbuilt depth of the gravels. When the excavation torque sharply increases, the operation should be immediately stopped and checked.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/8035456
spellingShingle Long Xue
Baichao Chen
Zhenjia Zhao
Zhaolong Dang
Meng Zou
Experimental Study of Torque Using a Small Scoop on the Lunar Surface
International Journal of Aerospace Engineering
title Experimental Study of Torque Using a Small Scoop on the Lunar Surface
title_full Experimental Study of Torque Using a Small Scoop on the Lunar Surface
title_fullStr Experimental Study of Torque Using a Small Scoop on the Lunar Surface
title_full_unstemmed Experimental Study of Torque Using a Small Scoop on the Lunar Surface
title_short Experimental Study of Torque Using a Small Scoop on the Lunar Surface
title_sort experimental study of torque using a small scoop on the lunar surface
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/8035456
work_keys_str_mv AT longxue experimentalstudyoftorqueusingasmallscooponthelunarsurface
AT baichaochen experimentalstudyoftorqueusingasmallscooponthelunarsurface
AT zhenjiazhao experimentalstudyoftorqueusingasmallscooponthelunarsurface
AT zhaolongdang experimentalstudyoftorqueusingasmallscooponthelunarsurface
AT mengzou experimentalstudyoftorqueusingasmallscooponthelunarsurface