STUDY OF STRENGTH CHARACTERISTICS OF SOILS UNDER LUNAR CONDITIONS

Abstract

Even before the landing of man on m;Jon, the attempts were made to ascertain the rropi rties of soils on the moon. Eut after the successful l=anding on moon, Soil Mechanics has come to play its own part. Although, soil samnies from moon are available now, it is not in sufficient quentitj for condu-cting engiiieerir~y tests. In this study an at-tempt has been made to observe the effect of the lunar conditions on the terrestrial soils. Toss i-Lly four differences namely atmosphere, gravity, radia Lion and tempera-cure regarding soil behaviour seems to occur between lunar and terrestrial soils. Leaving radiation and temperature effects aside, studies h ve been made only for reduced gravity and vacuum effects. A shear s .renq ch is undoubtedly the most. significant engineering nropErty of the soil, attempts have been made to observe, the effects of reduced gravity and vacuum on shear strength 3nci 1 ea_rinr; cap city of soils p,a:rticuiarly. Eesides shear strength and rearing capacity effects on other properties like rorositi and angle of repose (granular soils) have also been studied. the nature and configuration of, t~e lunar soil -s not yet generalised to exact degree soils available such as Rani,)ur sand and Kaolin have keen selected for the purpose of studying the effects. The results thus ma' he indicative of the behaviour of soils under lunar conditions.