Nardelli, Vincenzo, Wang, Chencheng and Coop, Matthew Richard (2026) Particle-scale mechanics of a Regolith-type soil. International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics. ISSN 0363-9061

Preview

PDF NardelliV_Particle‐Scale Mechanics of a Regolith‐Type Soil_VoR.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (4MB) | Preview

Abstract

The existing studies have reported that the surface of Mars shows the presence of materials having igneous origin, including basalt and regolith-type coarse soils. These findings are affected by significant uncertainties and, therefore, the selection of simulants for various exploration applications, including surface mobility of rovers, should take into account the potential complications that might arise if unexpected materials are found. The present study focusses on the micromechanical characterisation of a regolith-type soil (Eglin sand), comparing the results obtained with those determined for a quartz sand (Leighton Buzzard sand), that is also used as a Mars-soil simulant. Eglin sand is constituted by a complex composition and the various minerals identified were tested and analysed separately. The testing activities included the characterisation of the particle shape and surface morphology, and the determination of particle strength, contact response, contact stiffness and inter-particle friction. Differences in terms of particle morphology and surface properties were recorded for the two sands studied, and, along with grain mineralogy, these have been found to have an impact on the mechanical response, affecting both particle strength and inter-particle behaviour. This study aims to provide realistic soil data and information to be used in numerical simulations performed using the Discrete Element Method, which is often adopted for the analysis of surface mobility problems.

Item Type:	Article
Identifier:	10.1002/nag.70435
Keywords:	basalt ; contact mechanics ; discrete element method ; geology ; geotechnical engineering ; mars exploration program ; particle ; quartz ; regolith ; stiffness
Subjects:	Natural sciences > Geology Natural sciences > Physics
Date Deposited:	25 Sep 2026
Dates:	Date Publication status 28 August 2026 Accepted 23 September 2026 Published Online
School, department or research centre:	School of Computing and Engineering
Keywords:	basalt ; contact mechanics ; discrete element method ; geology ; geotechnical engineering ; mars exploration program ; particle ; quartz ; regolith ; stiffness
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/15459

Downloads

Actions (admin access)