PF-06-0026

cohesion mediated material properies of regolith surfaces

Matthias Keulen, Kolja Joeris, Jonathan E. Kollmer

For small planetesimals and asteroids the cohesion between regolith particles is stronger than the surface gravity. We experimentally study the mechanical behaviour of regolith in this regime through drop tower experiments. In these experiments we find that inter-particle cohesion can lead to the surface becoming elastic to low velocity impacts.