Bearing Capacity of Highly Frictional Lunar Regolith

Basic geotechnical engineering properties of lunar regolith became available through the Apollo lunar landings. This information has been supplemented by terrestrial experiments on simulated lunar soil. This information has shown that these soils possess friction angles as high as 60, in contrast to typical terrestrial sands which possess maximum friction angles of no greater than 45-50. Model footing experiments are being performed to provide data with which existing methods for the design of foundations can be examined. Preliminary results indicate that conventional theories underestimate the capacity of model footings.

• Ongoing collaboration with Center for Space Construction at University for Colorado established
• Contacts with researchers in space civil engineering at JSC established
• One publication; additional pending
• One graduate student supported Proposal submitted to NASA under Planetary Materials and Geochemistry program, now in review

Contact Information

Mail:	Dr. Steven Perkins
	Department of Civil Engineering
	Montana State University
	Bozeman, MT 59717