Effects of Grain Properties and Compaction on Single-Tool Indentation of Granular Materials

Abstract

People have been digging in dirt for hundreds of thousands of years, gaining much experience thereby. Yet we are always searching for more efficient, more effective methods. And when we begin digging on the surfaces of bodies other than Earth, such as the Moon and Mars, we must resort to a higher degree of automation and remote operation than many construction and mining engineers are comfortable with. This is made more difficult by the inherently uncertain and variable nature of dirt, soil, and regolith. This paper reports on the beginning of a sensitivity study of some of the important factors that control the excavatability of natural granular materials. Initial results reveal a complex interplay of behaviors affected by grain shape and compaction. These factors must eventually be understood more directly in space operations.

Meeting Name

14th Biennial International Conference on Engineering, Science, Construction, and Operations in Challenging Environments: Engineering for Extreme Environments, Earth and Space (2014: Oct. 27-29, St. Louis, MO)

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Compaction; Earth (planet); Moon; Degree of automation; Grain properties; Grain shapes; Remote operation; Sensitivity studies; Space operations; Tool indentation; Granular materials

International Standard Book Number (ISBN)

978-0784479179

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Oct 2014

Link to Full Text

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