Vibration-induced size segregation of lunar regolith and simulants for in situ resource utilisation (ISRU)
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Effective beneficiation of lunar regolith for in situ resource utilisation (ISRU) requires size classification methods compatible with vacuum environments, where fluid-based systems are impractical. This study evaluates vibrational segregation as a dry alternative, using sealed-vial excitation under Earth gravity. We test Apollo sample 15601 alongside three lunar simulants (JSC-1, LMS-1, TUBS-M) across multiple vibrational conditions. Micro-CT imaging, Rosin–Rammler modelling, and Jensen–Shannon Divergence analysis quantify internal structure and simulant similarity. Mechanistic models of aerodynamic drag and bulk mobilisation clarify the roles of fines, cohesion, and confinement. A15601 develops a stable three-layer structure driven by fines immobilisation and coarse particle lofting. LMS-1 exhibits similar layering but weaker compaction. TUBS-M provides the closest statistical match, while JSC-1 segregates efficiently but less representatively. Particle size distribution breadth emerges as the primary driver of compaction and stratification. Though tested under terrestrial conditions, the findings offer a framework for evaluating simulants and designing passive ISRU separation systems.
Date Issued
2025-10-14
Date Acceptance
2025-09-30
Citation
Space and Planetary Resources, 2025, 1
ISSN
3059-4502
Publisher
Springer
Journal / Book Title
Space and Planetary Resources
Volume
1
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2025 Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
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Publication Status
Published
Article Number
2
Date Publish Online
2025-10-14