The Study And Analysis Of Simulation And Experiment Of Lunar Dust Rising By Lunar Rover Wheel

The ultimate goal of Chinese lunar exploration project is to take astronautsstep on the moon for scientific exploration activities. Apollo reports show thatthe main factors which reduce the efficiency of scientific research on the moon isthe adhesion effects of lunar dust floating above lunar surface. The lunar dustsuspended by lunar rover wheel is the main part of floating lunar dust. Whenraising dust is higher enough to reach the system carried by the lunar rover, itwill debase the performance of the most parts of these equipment. The reason forraising dust by the wheel rotating on the moon which attribute to adhesion oflunar dust is different with the wheel rotating on the earth which attribute to airflow. Therefore, the study and analysis of simulation and experiment of raisingdust by lunar rover wheel which based on the theory of adhesion of lunar dust isvery important for the future lunar exploration.This paper presents a interaction model between dust particles and dust withthe wheel based on the classical contact mechanics and tribo-electric theory. Wedevelop a discrete element simulation software which is based on the modelabove and then we formulating the process of raising dust by the lunar roverwheel.Firstly, we analyze the present study on the interaction between wheel and lunardust. We figure out that the adhesion of lunar dust is the key reason for raisingdust by the wheel on the lunar vacuum environment.Secondly, this paper compares and analyses the different applicableconditions of classical contact mechanics theory and non contact mechanicsmodel, and points out that introduction of surface energy distribution is the keyto build the interaction model between dust and wheel. By using the staticsurface energy distribution principle and classical tribo-electrostatic theory, webuild the mechanical model of lunar dust based on the adhesion theory ofclassical contact mechanics theory and non contact mechanics theory. Based onthe model build above, we develop the lunar rover wheel dust discrete elementsimulation software. The software is written in C++language and built on theplatform of EDEM API. Then we formulate the process of raising dust by three kinds of wheelsunder the Earth and The moon gravity respectively using the software developedabove. The formulating results show that the adhesion of lunar dust is the keyreason for the wheel to raise dust in the vacuum environment.Finally, this paper experimentally studies the process of raising dust by thewheel under vacuum environment. By comparing the experimental results andsimulation results we find out that the interaction model established above andsoftware developed above is respond for the simulation of raising dust by thewheel under vacuum environment. This paper supplies the theory and simulationplatform for future lunar dust research.