Stability and form-finding of shelters subjected to moonquakes of the lunar south polar region

Abstract

As humanity re-engages in lunar exploration missions, plans are being developed for base construction in the lunar south polar region to support long-term human presence. It is therefore essential to evaluate the structural stability of lunar shelters to protect the lunar base and infrastructure from hazards such as moonquakes. Compression structures such as arches and domes, made from earth or lunar-derived materials, may be suitable lunar structures. This study aims to evaluate the stability of dome structures under seismic loads from moonquakes and then propose appropriate design options. The equivalent lateral force (ELF) method was applied to convert the ground accelerations obtained from probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) results for the lunar south polar regions into seismic lateral loads. Thrust network analysis (TNA) is then employed to (i) evaluate the stability of dome shelters subjected to seismic lateral loads, and (ii) investigate the impact of variations in dome shelter design and seismic hazard levels. The findings of this paper present key design criteria for dome shelters through form-finding optimisation based on seismic hazards in the lunar south polar regions. The calculated minimum required thickness-to-radius ratios provide preliminary design guidelines for dome shelters that protect lunar habitats and infrastructure.