Printed at Acta Astronautica – Feasibility examine and prospects evaluation of lunar regolith forming based mostly on concentrated photo voltaic vitality

Abstract:
The solidification and molding of lunar regolith are important for developing lunar habitats. This examine introduces an revolutionary lunar regolith molding method that synergistically combines photo voltaic focus, versatile optical fiber bundle vitality switch, and powder mattress fusion. A purposeful prototype is developed to validate the proposed scheme. Systematic experiments together with fastened beam spot melting, line melting, floor melting, and physique melting are performed utilizing simulated basalt lunar regolith. Through in-situ remark of the soften pool’s formation, evolution, and growth dynamics, we establish a sequential transformation mechanism on the powder mattress’s floor: preliminary curling evolves into detachment from the mattress, subsequent incorporation right into a molten droplet, and supreme solidification. A complete analysis of density and mechanical properties throughout a number of parameter combos reveals that vitality flux density of three.33 MW/m² with a scan velocity of 30 mm/min, inter-track spacing of three mm, and layer thickness of two mm permits the manufacturing of structurally integral samples with steady morphology. The ensuing specimens reveal a most compressive energy of 4.25 MPa and a density of two.31 g/cm³. This solar-powered additive manufacturing method establishes a viable reference framework for large-scale on-site building of lunar analysis stations.

Honglun Yang, Haitao Wang, Biao Xie, Mingqi Sun, Shuyi Chen, Zhe Zhang, Tianzhu Zhang, Gang Pei, Chenglin Yi, Shunuan Liu, Feasibility examine and prospects evaluation of lunar regolith forming based mostly on concentrated photo voltaic vitality, Acta Astronautica, Volume 232, 2025, Pages 424-438, ISSN 0094-5765,