“Using EDEM to simulate lunar dust behavior, NASA investigated how to efficiently clear dust away from equipment on the Moon or Mars-- by using the influence of an electrical field to repel the particles. The arrows show dust moving away from a screen that needed cleaning.”
NASA and DEM Solutions have teamed up on several projects over the years. In the latest, performed under the Innovative Partnerships Program (IPP) Seed Fund, DEM Solutions provided NASA with an infusion of EDEM technology-- helping NASA develop methods for modeling and simulating the behavior of lunar dust, soil, and rock to use in virtual testing of lunar equipment prototypes.
The project provided NASA with information in bulk particle flow simulation, the use of EDEM software, and customization of EDEM advanced capabilities to simulate particle behavior in low gravity, tribocharging conditions.
Lunar dust accumulation on sensitive equipment is a serious issue in planning for lunar base development and resource utilization. The dust is angular and abrasive, and prone to a buildup of static charge that makes it adhere to sensors and equipment surfaces--making dust removal a big problem. EDEM simulations are used in the development of NASA Surface Systems Dust Mitigation technologies --to model their methods for dust removal and cleaning of optical and thermal radiator surfaces, connectors, and seals.
NASA has also integrated EDEM virtual prototyping for the design and virtual testing of future systems to aid In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), such as excavation, vehicle traction, bulk material flow under low gravity, and the electrostatic separation of ilmenite as a mineral resource.
”NASA tests a lunar regolith transport system--using EDEM to simulate how it works under the Moon’s gravity. Regolith dumped into the hopper is carried up a rotating screw auger, and on to processing equipment. Particle colors show velocity.”
Look for further details of NASA-DEM Solutions projects in the following NASA publications:
NASA deploys EDEM to calibrate DEM Material Models of lunar soils in the feature story, "Innovative Partnership Finds Answers to Modeling Lunar Dust” , published in NASA’s ASK Magazine Issue 41, Winter 2011
EDEM simulation technology had the honor of inclusion in NASA's annual publication Spinoff 2010: NASA Technologies that Benefit Society with the feature article “Computer Models Simulate Fine Particle Dispersion”
EDEM is also included in NASA Technologies Enhance Our Lives, a NASA publication which highlights and summarizes recent significant research and development activities across the Agency and the successful transfer of NASA technologies to the marketplace
NASA-DEM Solutions projects are detailed an article from the Kennedy Space Center Tech Transfer News , “IPP Seed Fund Partnership is Answering Questions about Moon Dust: Software provides accurate modeling of lunar dust, regolith”