Difference between revisions of "Concrete"
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'''Concrete''' is a well known material for building [[house]]s and [[infrastructure]] elements. It has excellent characteristics for protection against [[radiation]] and small [[meteorites]]. Possibly, concrete can be made in situ on [[Mars]], using [[local resources]]. | '''Concrete''' is a well known material for building [[house]]s and [[infrastructure]] elements. It has excellent characteristics for protection against [[radiation]] and small [[meteorites]]. Possibly, concrete can be made in situ on [[Mars]], using [[local resources]]. | ||
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==Hydraulic cement== | ==Hydraulic cement== | ||
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==Waterless concrete== | ==Waterless concrete== | ||
| − | There are ideas of making waterless concrete from [[sulfur]] and [[regolith]]. | + | There are ideas of making waterless concrete from [[sulfur]] and [[regolith]]<ref>https://arxiv.org/pdf/1512.05461.pdf "A Novel Material for In Situ Construction on Mars: |
| + | Experiments and Numerical Simulations." Lin Wan et al. 2016</ref>. | ||
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| + | The ultimate strength and tensile strength was found to be best at a mixing ratio of 50% sulfur and 50% JSC Mars-1A regolith simulant sieved to a maximum particle size of 1 mm. The concrete was found to have a compression strength of > 50 MPa, a flexural strength of 1.75 MPa, and a splitting tensile strength of 3.9 MPa. | ||
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| + | Utilizing sulfur-regolith concrete is possible on Mars, but not the Moon. On the moon, the concrete mass would be gradually lost due to sublimation of sulfur in vacuum, and the large temperature swings between lunar day and night which compromise the structure. Sulfur-regolith concrete is stable under martian conditions and would not experience a loss in mass due to sublimation. | ||
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| + | Mars is considered a sulfur-rich planet, but it in unclear where sulfur may be and if it is present in a form suitable for the production of sulfur concrete. | ||
==Reinforcement== | ==Reinforcement== | ||
Revision as of 19:40, 18 March 2019
Concrete is a well known material for building houses and infrastructure elements. It has excellent characteristics for protection against radiation and small meteorites. Possibly, concrete can be made in situ on Mars, using local resources.
Hydraulic cement
Unlike on Earth's Moon there seems to be plenty of water on Mars, but hydraulic cement also requires calcium, silicon and aluminum. It is unclear whether these substances can be found on Mars in a form that allows a simple processing.
Waterless concrete
There are ideas of making waterless concrete from sulfur and regolith[1].
The ultimate strength and tensile strength was found to be best at a mixing ratio of 50% sulfur and 50% JSC Mars-1A regolith simulant sieved to a maximum particle size of 1 mm. The concrete was found to have a compression strength of > 50 MPa, a flexural strength of 1.75 MPa, and a splitting tensile strength of 3.9 MPa.
Utilizing sulfur-regolith concrete is possible on Mars, but not the Moon. On the moon, the concrete mass would be gradually lost due to sublimation of sulfur in vacuum, and the large temperature swings between lunar day and night which compromise the structure. Sulfur-regolith concrete is stable under martian conditions and would not experience a loss in mass due to sublimation.
Mars is considered a sulfur-rich planet, but it in unclear where sulfur may be and if it is present in a form suitable for the production of sulfur concrete.
Reinforcement
The stability of concrete can be increased significantly by tension glass fibers or reinforcing steel.
