Cited by 84Additive Manufacturing Materials and ProcessesAdditive Manufacturing and 3D Printing TechnologiesInnovations in Concrete and Construction Materials

Mechanical behaviour of additively manufactured lunar regolith simulant components

Open access
Goulas, Athanasios, Binner, Jon GP, Engstrøm, Daniel S, Harris, Russell A, Friel, Ross J·2019·Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part L: Journal of Materials: Design and Applications

Abstract

Additive manufacturing and its related techniques have frequently been put forward as a promising candidate for planetary in-situ manufacturing, from building life-sustaining habitats on the Moon to fabricating various replacements parts, aiming to support future extra-terrestrial human activity. This paper investigates the mechanical behaviour of lunar regolith simulant material components, which is a potential future space engineering material, manufactured by a laser-based powder bed fusion additive manufacturing system. The influence of laser energy input during processing was associated with the evolution of component porosity, measured via optical and scanning electron microscopy in combination with gas expansion pycnometry. The compressive strength performance and Vickers micro-hardness of the components were analysed and related back to the processing history and resultant microstructure of the lunar regolith simulant build material. Fabricated structures exhibited a relative porosity of 44–49% and densities ranging from 1.76 to 2.3 g cm −3 , with a maximum compressive strength of 4.2 ± 0.1 MPa and elastic modulus of 287.3 ± 6.6 MPa, the former is comparable to a typical masonry clay brick (3.5 MPa). The additive manufacturing parts also had an average hardness value of 657 ± 14 HV 0.05/15 , better than borosilicate glass (580 HV). This study has shed significant insight into realising the potential of a laser-based powder bed fusion additive manufacturing process to deliver functional engineering assets via in-situ and abundant material sources that can be potentially used for future engineering applications in aerospace and astronautics.

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Crossref · 10.1177/1464420718777932

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  • Goulas et al. reported maximum compressive strength of 4.2 ± 0.1 MPa, elastic modulus of 287.3 ± 6.6 MPa, and average hardness 657 ± 14 HV for printed regolith.

    “The authors reported a maximum compressive strength of 4 . 2 ± 0 . 1 MPa , an elastic modulus of 287 . 3 ± 6 . 6 MPa , and an average hardness value of 657 ± 14 HV.”

    From A comprehensive review of lunar-based manufacturing and construction (2024) · cites this paper as [127]

    Section 3.6 (pp. 25, 28–29) reports the claimed maximum compressive strength and average hardness for additively manufactured lunar regolith simulant. It also reports an elastic modulus of 287.3 MPa, but gives its uncertainty as ±6.4 MPa on p. 25; the Conclusions (p. 34) give ±6.7 MPa, not the claimed ±6.6 MPa. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The enhanced mechanical properties of HIT-L-1 prints compared to Goulas et al. are attributed to higher energy input, facilitating sufficient melting, improved fusion, and inter-layer bonding.

    “These enhanced mechanical properties, compared to those reported by Goulas et al. [126,127], are attributed to the higher energy input, facilitating sufficient melting, improved fusion, and inter-layer bonding.”

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2 of the 53 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. [3]3. Ceccanti F, Dini E, De Kestelier X, et al. 3D printing technology for a moon outpost exploiting lunar soil. 61st Int Astronaut Congr Prague, CZ, IAC-10-D3 2010; 3: 1 -9.
  2. [15]15. Rickman D, Edmunson J, McLemore C. A Functional Comparison of Lunar Regoliths and Their Simulants. J Aerosp Eng 2012; 9276: 172.
  3. [33]33. MedranoE'Vers A, Morales -Hernández AE, Valencia-López R, et al. Enfermedad granulomatosa crónica . 2017. Epub ahead of print 2017. DOI: 10.1007/s13398-0140173-7.2. · DOI
  4. [37]37. Brandt M. Front Matter . 1st ed. Woodhead Publishing. Epub ahead of print 2017. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-08-100433-3.01001-0. · DOI
  5. [43]43. Cooke A, Slotwinski J. Properties of metal powders for additive manufacturing: A review of the state of the art of metal powder property testing. Addit Manuf Mater Stand Test Appl 2015; 21 -48.

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Authors
Goulas, A., Binner, J. G., Engstrøm, D. S., Harris, R. A., & Friel, R. J.
Affiliations
  • Loughborough University (GB)
  • University of Birmingham (GB)
  • University of Leeds (GB)
  • Lund University (SE)
Corresponding author
Goulas, Athanasios
Venue
Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part L: Journal of Materials: Design and Applications
Published
2018-05-28
Volume
233
Issue
8
Pages
1629-1644
ISSN
  • 1464-4207 (ISSN-L)
  • 2041-3076
OpenAlex
W2807219478
Cited by
84
References
53
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4
FWCI
2.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part L Journal of Materials Design and Applications (publishedVersion)
  • Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (publishedVersion)
  • White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
  • Hogskolan Ihalmstad (Halmstad University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Loughborough University Institutional Repository (Loughborough University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Loughborough University Research Repository (Loughborough University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Lund University Publications (Lund University) (submittedVersion)
  • University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Additive Manufacturing Materials and Processes
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Innovations in Concrete and Construction Materials
Keywords
lunar regolith simulant, powder bed fusion, laser powder bed fusion, in-situ resource utilization, porosity, compressive strength, Vickers microhardness, elastic modulus, laser energy input, microstructure

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