Digital Modeling of Regolith Flowability Using Stochastic Modeling and Discrete Element Method – a Concept

For future extended lunar missions, the in-situ production of oxygen from lunar regolith via resource utilization (ISRU) is of critical importance. A comprehensive understanding of regolith behavior during handling, transport and processing is required to realize this potential. Addressing fundamental gaps in the flow characteristics of lunar regolith – particularly arising from its angular particle morphology and complex interparticle mechanics – is therefore essential. This presentation, forming part of the Universal Predictors of Regolith Behavior (UPREB) series, examines the combined use of stochastic modeling and the discrete element method (DEM) to elucidate regolith flowability. Initially, particle geometries are statistically analyzed and reconstructed from micro‐computed tomography data by means of stochastic geometry models, thereby yielding representative virtual particles. DEM simulations then predict regolith behavior under lunar gravity and vacuum conditions with minimal terrestrial experimentation. To ensure predictive fidelity, the DEM framework is calibrated against key experimental metrics, notably static angle of repose and shear cell measurements. The methods presented in this work form the basis of a virtual materials testing approach to investigate the relationship between geometric properties of regolith, environmental conditions and effective properties.