Multiscale Simulation in Mesoscopic Dynamic Behavior of Lunar Soil Simulant Subjected to Rigid Lugged Wheel

Abstract

The continuum/discontinuum multiscale analytical system of the interaction between rigid wheel and lunar soil by coupling discrete elements and matrix module was established. The DEM parameter of lunar soil particles was confirmed by the biax-test. The mesoscopic dynamic behaviors of lunar soil simulant subjected to rigid lugged wheel with different structures were simulanted and analysized by the multiscale method. Comparing the simulation results with the soil-bin test results, the multiscale model not only satisfied the computation accuracy, but also had the much higher computation efficiency.

Numerical analysis of lug effects on tractive performance of off-road wheel by DEM

“…However, the current simulation of wheels by DEM is mostly concentrated on the lightweight vehicles such as planet rovers. Kyoto University [21,22], University of Alaska-Fairbanks [23,24], Jilin University [25,26] and Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics [27,28] have carried out systematic researches in the aspects of walking mechanism, lugs optimizing and bionic design of lunar or Martian vehicles. Nevertheless, existing achievements and application based on the study of lunar wheels cannot be applied mechanically on the off-road ones of the large engineering equipment, due to the quite different field of gravity and vertical load.…”