Simulating Lunar Regolith with COMSOL for Mission Safety and Space Infrastructure

Current space exploration aims to establish permanent structures on the Moon, Mars, and eventually other planetary bodies. Successful lunar missions depend on understanding lunar regolith, the granular material covering the Moon’s surface, whose behavior is governed by low gravity, vacuum conditions, particle irregularity, electrostatic effects, and extreme thermal environments. This webinar will focus on two connected modeling problems related to lunar regolith: plume–regolith interaction during lunar landings and induction heating of porous regolith for thermal processing and melting. Together, these problems show how simulation with the COMSOL Multiphysics ® software can help engineering and research teams predict, control, and utilize granular lunar material. The first part of the talk will address plume–regolith interaction. During spacecraft landings, underexpanded rocket exhaust plumes impinge on the surface, producing compressible flow structures, erosion, particle ejection, and possible surface damage. High-speed dust can reduce visibility and threaten astronauts, equipment, and nearby assets. These issues are especially important for Artemis and future missions involving repeated landings and larger spacecraft. Modeling the coupled gas-particle response provides insight into landing-site safety, erosion patterns, ejecta trajectories, and mitigation strategies. The second part of the webinar will examine induction heating of porous regolith, where electromagnetic en…