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Mechanics of Granular Materials-3 (MGM-3)Scientists are going to space to understand how earthquakes and other forces disturb grains of soil and sand. They will examine how the particle arrangement and structure of soils, grains and powders are changed by external forces and gain knowledge about the strength, stiffness and volume changes properties of granular materials at low pressures. The Mechanics of Granular Materials (MGM) experiment uses the microgravity of orbit to test sand columns under conditions that cannot be obtained in experiments on Earth. Research can only go so far on Earth because gravity-induced stresses complicate the analysis and change loads too quickly for detailed analysis. This new knowledge will be applied to improving foundations for buildings, managing undeveloped land, and handling powdered and granular materials in chemical, agricultural, and other industries. NASA wants to understand the way soil behaves under different gravity levels so that crews can safely build habitats on Mars and the Moon. Future MGM experiments will benefit from extended tests aboard the International Space Station, including experiments under simulated lunar and Martian gravity in the science centrifuge.
Document ID
20030011404
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Other
Authors
Stein Sture
(University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, United States)
Khalid Alshibi
(Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, United States)
Buddy Guynes
(Marshall Space Flight Center Redstone Arsenal, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
December 16, 2002
Publication Information
Publication: STS 107 Shuttle Press Kit: Providing 24/7 Space Science Research
Subject Category
Inorganic, Organic And Physical Chemistry
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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