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Simple and Efficient Methods to Produce Construction Materials for Lunar and Mars Bases

by Yoji Ishikawa, Obayashi Corp, Tokyo, Japan,
Tetsuo Sasaki, Obayashi Corp, Tokyo, Japan,
Tetsumi Higasayama, Obayashi Corp, Tokyo, Japan,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Engineering, Construction, and Operations in Space III

Abstract:

A microwave heating method and a cold press method are proposed as simple ways to produce construction materials on the Moon and Mars. The present experiment on the microwave heating method indicates that 5% of energy is expended on material manufacturing. This means 70 GJ of energy is required to make one cubic meter of material. The uniaxial compressive strength of the final material is found to be 1.2 ? 10⁵ kN/m². The results of the cold press method show that a dry curing process is important to improve the compressive strength of the final material. The maximum compressive strength reaches 7.39 ? 10² kN/m². The microwave heating method can be used on the Moon, whereas the cold press method can be applied to both Lunar and Martian cases.

Subject Headings: Construction methods | Construction materials | Compressive strength | Space construction | Strength of materials | Microwaves | Lunar materials

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