Xerogel-based building material (XBM): potential for construction on Mars base and other resourceless sites

Ning Liu; Jishen Qiu

doi:10.1117/12.2612867

20 April 2022 Xerogel-based building material (XBM): potential for construction on Mars base and other resourceless sites

Ning Liu, Jishen Qiu

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 12044, Behavior and Mechanics of Multifunctional Materials XVI; 120440B (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2612867
Event: SPIE Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation, 2022, Long Beach, California, United States

Abstract

We propose a new composite that uses xerogel to bind sand particles to be used as the building materials for the Mars base. As the xerogel can be made by mixing minor polymer into water (available as ice), the xerogel-based building material (XBM) can maximize the in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). XBM cubes, after being cured under terrestrial environment (room temperature and approximately 1 atm.) or Mars-like environment ( -55°C and 0.00001 atm.), can achieve adequate mechanical properties for sustaining an apartment-size dome under the lower gravity on Mars (1/3 g). DEM is used to simulate the failure of XBM.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Ning Liu and Jishen Qiu "Xerogel-based building material (XBM): potential for construction on Mars base and other resourceless sites", Proc. SPIE 12044, Behavior and Mechanics of Multifunctional Materials XVI, 120440B (20 April 2022); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2612867

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