Influence of Particle Morphology on the Mechanical Characteristics of Lunar Soil Via Numerical Simulation

Abstract

The mechanical properties of lunar regolith are fundamental to extraterrestrial resource utilization and deep space exploration, directly influencing the safety of lunar infrastructure and base construction. Traditional discrete element method (DEM) simulations often oversimplify particle morphology as spherical, leading to biased mechanical predictions, while in-situ lunar testing remains cost-prohibitive. This study investigates the effects of realistic particle morphology—using CE-6 lunar regolith scanned into 2 distinct shapes (i.e., near-spherical and platy particles)— on the mechanical behavior via triaxial shear DEM simulations. Results show that platy specimens exhibit higher peak strength than spherical simplifications, with strain hardening dominating except for spherical specimens under high confinement. Micromechanically, platy particles demonstrate complex force chains, stress concentration, and anisotropic contact forces, whereas spherical particles yield uniform distributions. These findings advance lunar soil-structure interaction models, inform simulated regolith development, and provide methodological insights for planetary soil studies, supporting China’s lunar exploration and deep space endeavors.