Thermomechanical behavior of steel structural configurations subjected to cyclic cryogenic conditions in Martian environment

Abstract

Mars is a potential destination for future human colonization, and the construction of sustainable habitats capable of withstanding its extreme low-temperature fluctuations is critical. Numerical simulations are employed to assess the thermal and mechanical performance of three common extraterrestrial structural configurations — Arch, Dome, and Cylinder — under Martian diurnal temperature fluctuations. The study employs stainless steel as the primary material. Key focus areas include stress concentration, displacement, and fatigue failure in the structures. The key findings are: (1) A 3-meter-thick regolith shielding significantly slows heat conduction, mitigating the impact of extreme temperature fluctuations on the steel structure. A fitted curve demonstrates how the structure gradually reaches thermal equilibrium under sustained temperature cycling, correlating temperature cycles with the minimum surface temperature of the steel structure; (2) The introduction of thermal cycles and internal-external pressure differences leads to changes in structural performance, with the regolith shielding providing the most effective protection for the Cylinder configuration; (3) Expansion and contraction caused by thermal cycles are constrained by the fixed base plate, resulting in structural failure originating from the bottom connections. Comparative analysis reveals that the Dome configuration offers superior load distribution and spatial efficiency, making it optimal for Martian habitats subjected to uniform pressure. The results highlight the thermal responses and fatigue behaviors of different steel structural configurations under Mars's extreme environmental conditions, providing scientific support for the selection and design of Martian habitat structures, offering strategies for optimization in structural design, and contributing to the development of reliable structural solutions for future Mars exploration and human settlement.

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