EXTREME| 2023

WHAT IS THE INFLUENCE OF EXTREME TEMPERATURES ON THE MECHANICS OF GRANULAR SOILS IN TERRESTRIAL AND EXTRATERRESTRIAL CONDITIONS?

In an era marked by the increasing prevalence of extreme environmental conditions on Earth and the exploration of celestial bodies including the Moon and Mars where environmental conditions are inherently extreme, a research initiative is underway to unravel the mechanics of granular soils in these demanding conditions.

Specifically, this project seeks to understand how temperature extremes impact the structure, properties, and behavior of granular soils. Granular soils, including sand, gravel, and regolith, are abundant on Earth as well as on celestial bodies such as the Moon and Mars.

However, the increasingly extreme environmental conditions associated with climate change on Earth are leading detrimental phenomena that include desertification and the thawing of frozen soils. Meanwhile, the abrupt temperature swings and radiation characteristic of the Moon and Mars continuously stress landforms in those extraterrestrial settings. Understanding the mechanics of granular soils on Earth is pivotal for infrastructure resilience, disaster management, and environmental preservation. Meanwhile, understanding the mechanics of these soils on the Moon and Mars is essential for safe landing site selection, habitat construction, and resource extraction.
In all these conditions, granular soils play a critical role in the dynamics of natural and built environments.With these premises, this project aims to contribute to the future of human development, not only on Earth but also on other planes where we soon aim to settle, such as the Moon and Mars.