Terrain Regolith Evaluation And Degradation (TREAD)

The proposed Terrain Regolith Evaluation and Degradation (TREAD) project tackles the critical issue of rover wheel and drivetrain degradation in abrasive lunar soil by merging empirical data from a controlled terramechanics testbed with multi-scale simulation tools. The requested Phase I funding will be used to refine a discrete element method–based modeling platform, develop a small suite of advanced wheel materials, and conduct validation tests in the University of Central Florida’s RIDER test facility. By focusing on wear rates, traction, and dust ingress mechanics, this project ensures that next-generation lunar vehicles are equipped for the harsh operational demands of the Moon’s surface. Beyond serving NASA’s Artemis initiative, the technology targets markets where high-fidelity wear predictions offer strong commercial potential: mining, construction, agricultural machinery, and off-road or military vehicles that operate in dusty or sandy terrains. Funding will thus underwrite the design and calibration of a robust predictive engine, enabling engineers in both spaceflight and terrestrial industries to drastically reduce maintenance costs, enhance vehicle reliability, and plan preventative maintenance schedules more effectively. The end goal is to produce a validated tool that mission planners and commercial operators can rely on when forecasting long-term performance of wheeled systems in extremely abrasive environments with 20% less uncertainty than current methods.