Discrete element simulation of interaction between rover wheel and lunar regolith

• 1、Dept. of Automobile Engineering, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• 2、China Academy of Space Technology

Abstract：According to the features of small scale, free of water, and strong discretion for lunar regolith particles, interaction between Lunar rover wheel and lunar regolith was analysed using the Discrete Element Method (DEM) based on contact mechanics theory. Contact estimation was performed on regolith particles and wheel ,and the relationship between mesomechanics and macro traction parameters was obtained using the method of projection transform and accumulative summation. Two examples were valideted to result that the DEM calculated were consistent with traditional terramachanics. Therefore, DEM is feasible in analysis of wheel-soil interaction. Further calculations indicated that the sinkage and resistance of wheel both increased under the lunar gravity, which made the wheel lost its traction. Under such condition, it would become more difficult for the lunar rover to surmount obstacle.

Keywords： lunar rover discrete element method wheel-soil interaction numerical simulation