Structural and Mass Optimization of Lunar Zebro Chassis with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer
P. Garg (TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering)
J. F L Goosen – Mentor (TU Delft - Computational Design and Mechanics)
More Info
expand_more
Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.
Abstract
This thesis focuses on the use of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) to optimize the Lunar Zebro (a six legged nano rover) chassis for lightweight yet robust lunar exploration. Using the Solid Mechanics and Layered Shell module in COMSOL Multiphysics, CFRP and Aluminium designs were compared under launch-equivalent loading, with performance evaluated through displacement, stiffness, and failure criteria. From plate-level studies to complete chassis simulations the work progresses and further explores new structural configurations, reinforcements and geometric stiffeners to enhance mass efficiency. Compared to Aluminium, the final design achieves over 83% mass reduction while maintaining high stiffness and dynamic safety. The study demonstrates how composite modeling and geometric redesign together enable efficient and resilient nano-rover structures for future lunar missions.