Glass Fiber-Reinforced 3D-Printed Sulfur Concrete for Lunar Structures
Research Team
Lead Researcher:
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Dr. C. Shawn Sun, Department of Civil Engineering and Management
Collaborators:
- Jeffrey Megivern, JPL
- Adam Sevenker, eConstruct
Student Team:
- Nikhil Sagar Dadem
- Andrew Garcia
- Mundkur Palguni Panduranga Kamath
*Alumni
Funding
- Funding Organization:
- Funding Program:
SYNOPSIS
- Developed a specialized 3D printer for concrete integrated with glass fiber reinforcement.
- Aimed to construct lunar structures using in-situ resources.
- Focused on using local lunar materials to minimize Earth launch costs.
- Supported NASA’s Zero Launch Mass (ZLM) strategy for sustainable space exploration.
- Incorporated sulfur in the concrete mix, eliminating the need for water.
Motivation/Research Problem
Research Objectives
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Design a 3D printer capable of precise concrete extrusion for lunar applications.
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Develop a suitable pump system for sulfur concrete that includes heating capabilities.
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Formulate sulfur concrete mix to make lunar construction feasible.
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Explore the feasibility of glass fiber reinforcement in 3D printed concrete for lunar construction.
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Study the mechanical properties of 3D printed concrete with and without glass fiber reinforcement.
Research Methods/Approach
- Mechanical Structures: Uses a Cartesian system with FDM for precise, layer-by-layer construction.
- Extruder System: Develops an optimized extruder with heating capabilities for consistent sulfur concrete flow.
- Material Strength & Testing: Focuses on sulfur concrete with and without glass fiber reinforcement, testing its various strengths.
Research Results and Deliverables
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The 3D printing system includes stepper motors, drivers, an MCU controller, and Marlin firmware.
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A pump system is currently being tested.
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A variety of sulfur concrete specimens will be printed.
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The strengths of sulfur concrete with and without glass fiber will be tested.
Commercialization Opportunities
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Application: Lunar and Martian habitats, residential buildings, and other complex geometric structures on Earth
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Key Value: Construction of Lunar and Martian habitats using in-situ materials
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Potential Customers: NASA, contractors, and home developers
Research Timeline
Start Date:
End Date:
Lead Researcher:
-
Dr. C. Shawn Sun, Department of Civil Engineering and Management
Collaborators:
- Jeffrey Megivern, JPL
- Adam Sevenker, eConstruct
Student Team:
- Nikhil Sagar Dadem
- Andrew Garcia
- Mundkur Palguni Panduranga Kamath
*Alumni
Funding
- Funding Organization:
- Funding Program: