Load characteristics of simulated lunar rock drilling under lunar-based extreme temperature and vacuum environment
ZHOU Xuemin1, 2, HAO Haichun1, 2*, GAO Zheng1, 2, HE Kunchen3, LI Jiahua1, 2, ZHOU Lang1, 2, JI Bing1, 2, WANG Zhipeng1, 2, GAO Mingzhong1, 2, 3
(1. State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Construction and Healthy Operation and Maintenance of Deep Underground Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China; 2. Institute of Deep Earth Sciences and Green Energy, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China; 3. College of Water Resource and Hydropower,
Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China)
Abstract：The efficient acquisition of lunar samples is the foundation for promoting lunar scientific research and resource utilization, and coring drilling is the core technology to realize deep-depth lunar sampling. Investigating the drilling load characteristics of simulated lunar rock under extreme lunar environment serves as the basis for achieving efficient deep coring. Using simulated lunar rock as the research object, suitable drill bit configurations were optimized. Systematic drilling experiments were conducted under vacuum conditions across a controlled range of environmental temperatures, with a focus on analyzing the evolution characteristics of drilling loads and quantitatively evaluating the sampling rate and the thermal behavior of the drill bit. The results indicate that: (1) cemented carbide octagonal prism drill bits are well suited for coring simulated lunar rock under lunar extreme environment. (2) Lunar environmental temperature significantly affects coring efficiency, with coring rates generally decreasing as temperature increases, and low temperatures being more favorable for obtaining intact cores. (3) Drill temperature rises gradually with sampling time, and higher environmental temperatures accelerate the rate of temperature increase. (4) Under lunar extreme environment, reducing environmental temperature and employing a combined rotation-impact drilling mode are effective strategies for acquiring intact cores and preserving stratigraphic information. The research findings can provide scientific basis and technical support for the optimization of lunar-based drilling and mining equipment and deep drilling and core sampling.
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2026, Vol. 45 
