Enhanced in-situ utilization of lunar simulant for fibre-reinforced high-performance concrete: Mechanical properties and cost-effectiveness for lunar applications
In pursuit of establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon, the development of construction materials capable of enduring the Moon's harsh environmental conditions is of the utmost importance. This study examines the mechanical properties of fibre-reinforced lunar high-performance conc...
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Materials Research and Technology |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425005563 |
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| author | Ruizhe Shao Chengqing Wu Jun Li |
| author_facet | Ruizhe Shao Chengqing Wu Jun Li |
| author_sort | Ruizhe Shao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In pursuit of establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon, the development of construction materials capable of enduring the Moon's harsh environmental conditions is of the utmost importance. This study examines the mechanical properties of fibre-reinforced lunar high-performance concrete (LHPC), which was fabricated using a significant proportion of lunar simulant. A systematic analysis was conducted on the influence of fibre type, dosage, and combination (mono and hybrid) on workability, unit weight, microstructure, and compressive and flexural performance of LHPC. Moreover, this study introduces a concept of mass-strength efficiency to demonstrate the feasibility and benefit of fibre reinforcement and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) for construction purposes on the Moon. Results indicated that while fibre addition reduced workability, it increased the unit weight of LHPC. As compared to the control, the fibre reinforcement significantly improved mechanical properties, with the highest 28-day compressive and flexural strengths recorded at 125.2 MPa and 11.5 MPa, respectively. Furthermore, all fibre-reinforced specimens maintained structural integrity under the compressive loads, and those with mono steel or hybrid steel-polypropylene (PP) fibres exhibited a wide principal fracture bridged by intact fibres after bending tests. Microstructural morphology confirmed effective fibre-matrix adhesion and highlighted distinct failure mechanisms of mechanical interlocking for steel fibres and failure through breakage for PP fibres. However, steel fibres in the hybrid system mitigated rapid crack propagation, resulting in slight necking and pull-out deformation of PP fibres. The enhanced mass-strength efficiency implied notable transportation cost savings, potentially up to $19,880 per kilogram of Earth-to-Moon materials. In general, a hybrid LHPC mix emerges as a viable solution for lunar bases, optimizing both mechanical properties and logistical efficiency. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e516737cf44842d3b71ad1cf3f2216b7 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2238-7854 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Journal of Materials Research and Technology |
| spelling | doaj-art-e516737cf44842d3b71ad1cf3f2216b72025-08-20T02:48:03ZengElsevierJournal of Materials Research and Technology2238-78542025-03-01356849686310.1016/j.jmrt.2025.03.047Enhanced in-situ utilization of lunar simulant for fibre-reinforced high-performance concrete: Mechanical properties and cost-effectiveness for lunar applicationsRuizhe Shao0 Chengqing Wu1Jun Li2School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney NSW, 2007, AustraliaInstitute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney NSW, 2007, Australia; Corresponding author. Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney NSW, 2007, AustraliaIn pursuit of establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon, the development of construction materials capable of enduring the Moon's harsh environmental conditions is of the utmost importance. This study examines the mechanical properties of fibre-reinforced lunar high-performance concrete (LHPC), which was fabricated using a significant proportion of lunar simulant. A systematic analysis was conducted on the influence of fibre type, dosage, and combination (mono and hybrid) on workability, unit weight, microstructure, and compressive and flexural performance of LHPC. Moreover, this study introduces a concept of mass-strength efficiency to demonstrate the feasibility and benefit of fibre reinforcement and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) for construction purposes on the Moon. Results indicated that while fibre addition reduced workability, it increased the unit weight of LHPC. As compared to the control, the fibre reinforcement significantly improved mechanical properties, with the highest 28-day compressive and flexural strengths recorded at 125.2 MPa and 11.5 MPa, respectively. Furthermore, all fibre-reinforced specimens maintained structural integrity under the compressive loads, and those with mono steel or hybrid steel-polypropylene (PP) fibres exhibited a wide principal fracture bridged by intact fibres after bending tests. Microstructural morphology confirmed effective fibre-matrix adhesion and highlighted distinct failure mechanisms of mechanical interlocking for steel fibres and failure through breakage for PP fibres. However, steel fibres in the hybrid system mitigated rapid crack propagation, resulting in slight necking and pull-out deformation of PP fibres. The enhanced mass-strength efficiency implied notable transportation cost savings, potentially up to $19,880 per kilogram of Earth-to-Moon materials. In general, a hybrid LHPC mix emerges as a viable solution for lunar bases, optimizing both mechanical properties and logistical efficiency.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425005563Lunar regolith simulantIn-situ resource utilizationLunar high-performance concreteFibre reinforcementMechanical propertiesMass-strength efficiency |
| spellingShingle | Ruizhe Shao Chengqing Wu Jun Li Enhanced in-situ utilization of lunar simulant for fibre-reinforced high-performance concrete: Mechanical properties and cost-effectiveness for lunar applications Journal of Materials Research and Technology Lunar regolith simulant In-situ resource utilization Lunar high-performance concrete Fibre reinforcement Mechanical properties Mass-strength efficiency |
| title | Enhanced in-situ utilization of lunar simulant for fibre-reinforced high-performance concrete: Mechanical properties and cost-effectiveness for lunar applications |
| title_full | Enhanced in-situ utilization of lunar simulant for fibre-reinforced high-performance concrete: Mechanical properties and cost-effectiveness for lunar applications |
| title_fullStr | Enhanced in-situ utilization of lunar simulant for fibre-reinforced high-performance concrete: Mechanical properties and cost-effectiveness for lunar applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhanced in-situ utilization of lunar simulant for fibre-reinforced high-performance concrete: Mechanical properties and cost-effectiveness for lunar applications |
| title_short | Enhanced in-situ utilization of lunar simulant for fibre-reinforced high-performance concrete: Mechanical properties and cost-effectiveness for lunar applications |
| title_sort | enhanced in situ utilization of lunar simulant for fibre reinforced high performance concrete mechanical properties and cost effectiveness for lunar applications |
| topic | Lunar regolith simulant In-situ resource utilization Lunar high-performance concrete Fibre reinforcement Mechanical properties Mass-strength efficiency |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425005563 |
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