Cohesions, friction angles, and other physical properties of Martian regolith from Mars Exploration Rover wheel trenches and wheel scuffs

Details Cohesions, friction angles, and other physical properties of Martian regolith from Mars Exploration Rover wheel trenches and wheel scuffs Cohesions, friction angles, and other physical properties of Martian regolith from Mars Exploration Rover wheel trenches and wheel scuffs

Feb 2011

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011jgre..11602006s&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 116, Issue E2, CiteID E02006

Physics

1

Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Surface Materials And Properties, Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Physical Properties Of Materials, Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Erosion And Weathering

Scientific paper

The Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity investigated the physical properties of Martian regolith in 7 wheel trenches and 20 wheel scuffs distributed along traverses at Gusev crater and Meridiani Planum. Specialized wheel-trenching sequences allowed analysis of wheel motor and suspension telemetry to determine regolith friction angle $\phi$ and cohesion c at trench sites. Friction angles were 30°-37°, and cohesions were 0-2 kPa. Simpler wheel-scuff maneuvers were analyzed for cohesion by assuming the range of $\phi$ determined from trenches; cohesions in wheel-scuffed regoliths were from 0 to 11 kPa. Regolith $\phi$ and c can be related to regolith origins. Grain sorting, compaction, shape, size, and angularity influence $\phi$. Impact cratering and aeolian processes have affected grain angularity and sorting of Martian regolith at both Mars Exploration Rover (MER) landing sites and contend in opposing ways to determine grain characteristics in the regolith. Friction angles are consistent with dry, rigid, nonplaty grains with particle size frequencies dominated by very fine sand (as seen by the Microscopic Imager or MI) with at least some grain rounding (unresolved by MI), reflecting physical weathering from aeolian saltation. Friction angle results from MER trenches therefore indicate that regolith states are between fully mature aeolian materials and impact debris. MI and color Pancam views show trench tailings and trench floors are redder, brighter, and have more intermixed extremely fine (unresolved) grains than regolith closer to the surface disturbed and exposed only by rolling tracks.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Cohesions, friction angles, and other physical properties of Martian regolith from Mars Exploration Rover wheel trenches and wheel scuffs does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Cohesions, friction angles, and other physical properties of Martian regolith from Mars Exploration Rover wheel trenches and wheel scuffs, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cohesions, friction angles, and other physical properties of Martian regolith from Mars Exploration Rover wheel trenches and wheel scuffs will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1122117