Experimental study on characteristic and mechanism of simulated lunar rock destruction under high energy laser irradiation

Abstract

The large load and poor heat dissipation of moon rock core drilling leads to the difficulty of rock breaking and low drilling and sampling efficiency. As a new auxiliary rock breaking method, laser rock breaking is expected to be applied to perturbation sampling in lunar rock drilling. Revealing the fracture characteristics and mechanism of rock under laser irradiation is an important basis for realizing laser-assisted lunar rock sampling. Basalt was used as simulated lunar rock sample, and its mechanical response characteristics under laser irradiation were analyzed from macro to micro point of view, and the failure law under different laser power and different irradiation time was explored. The results show that the failure of the sample under laser irradiation is mainly characterized by local rock melting and dynamic crack propagation, and the surface temperature of the sample follows the characteristics of Gaussian distribution. The laser power has a greater influence on the degree of rock weakening than the irradiation time. Laser irradiation of rocks can significantly reduce rock strength, and has obvious effects on improving rock breaking efficiency and reducing in situ disturbance. It is expected to provide theoretical and technical support for assisting lunar rock drilling and sampling in the future.