Research on the continuum/discontinuum multiscale analytical system of the interaction between rigid wheel and lunar soil

The continuum/discontinuum multiscale computations have great advantages in the large wheel/soil interaction simulations. Based on DEM software PFC2Dreg, the continuum/discontinuum multiscale analytical system of the interaction between rigid wheel and lunar soil by coupling discrete elements and matrix module was established. In the multiscale system, Bulk material particles on the surface being cut by the rigid wheel were simulated by discrete elements, and the part in the deep layer being produced elastic deformation was simulated by matrix module. Through one example of the interaction between rigid wheel and lunar soil using the multiscale model and the DEM model, and comparing the simulation results with the soil-bin test results, the multiscale model not only satisfied the computation accuracy, but also had the much higher computation efficiency.