An analysis of Clementine data obtained from a UVVIS camera and simulating laboratory photometric and polarimetric measurements is presented with the use of a new photometric threeparameter function combining the shadow-hiding and coherent backscatter mechanisms. The fit of calculated curves to the average brightness phase function of the Moon derived from Clementine data indicates that the coherent backscatter component is nonzero. The average amplitude of the opposition surge of the Moon in the range of phase angles 0• -1• is approximately 10%. The Clementine data also show a flattening of phase-dependent brightness at angles less than 0.25• that is caused by the angular size of the solar disk. The lunar brightness phase curves at small phase angles are nearly the same in different wavelengths even though at larger phase angles (5• -50 • ) the lunar surface becomes distinctly redder with increasing phase angle. According to the model, the lack of wavelength-dependent brightness variations at small phase angles can be due to quasifractal properties of the lunar surface. Results of related laboratory measurements suggest that: (1) besides the narrow coherent backscatter opposition spike there is a broad component which can contribute to phase angles up to 10• and (2) a component of coherent backscatter can be important even for low albedo surfaces. The latter testifies the opposition effect of the lunar surface to be substantially formed by the coherent backscatter mechanism.

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The real contact area between a sphere and a flat during loading, unloading, and cyclic loading-unloading in the elastic-plastic regime of deformations was investigated experimentally. A direct optical technique was used to observe in situ the evolution of the contact area. The experimental results obtained with copper and stainless steel spheres of different diameters that were pressed against a sapphire flat were compared with existing theoretical models, and whenever possible, with previous experimental works. These models are based on the assumption of either perfect slip (i.e., frictionless) or full stick contact condition. Good agreement was found between the experimental and theoretical results for the contact area and mean contact pressure. The existing models for the unloading process fail to accurately predict the residual radius of curvature of fully unloaded spheres, and the irreversibility of multiple loading unloading cycles at least for the several initial cycles. Some recommendations to improve the models are provided.

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An experimental test rig was developed in order to investigate elastic-plastic single micro-spherical contact under combined normal and tangential loading. This novel apparatus allows in situ and real time direct optical measurement of the real contact area (RCA) evolution in pre-sliding. It also allows relative displacement measurements under very low rates of tangential loading (down to 0.01 N/s) to capture accurately the fine details at sliding inception. This is achieved by piezoelectric actuation in closed loop feedback control in addition to synchronization with data and image acquisition to obtain real time measurement. The RCA measurement is realized by direct optical observation technique, whereas two different image processing algorithms were implemented for the elastic and the elastic-plastic contact regimes. The various features and capabilities of the test rig are presented along with some preliminary experimental results of RCA and friction behavior to assess its performance.

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