IIT-Madras developing concrete for bases on Mangal and Chandrama
IIT-Madras is leading the extra-terrestrial construction research in India, with its innovative approach to creating concrete which can be used on Planet Mangal.
This work will help potential future settlements on Mangal Graha and also enhance our understanding of material science under extreme conditions.
IIT-Madras has made considerable progress in the development of concrete suitable for construction on Mangal Graha, a critical component for potential human settlements on the planet.
Professor Piyush Chaunsali is leading the project with his team at the Extra-Terrestrial Manufacturing (ExTeM) centre, focusing on creating materials that can be utilized in the harsh conditions of space.
The overall aim of this research is to enable sustainable living conditions on Mangal by utilizing local resources—known as in-situ resource utilization (ISRU)—to minimize reliance on Earth-supplied materials.
This aligns with global ambitions for human colonization of planet Mangal, as envisioned by many at the ISRO.
One of the primary challenges in constructing on Mangal will be the lack of water, which is essential for traditional concrete mixing.
To address this, Chaunsali’s team has developed a “water-less concrete” by mixing sulfur with a special regolith, a type of soil found on Mangal.
In their experiments, they used a commercially available simulant that mimics special regolith to test their concrete formulation.
This innovative approach allows for rapid hardening of the concrete—within seconds—compared to conventional methods that require longer curing times.
The research indicates that while this concrete hardens quickly, managing its setting time will be crucial for practical applications on Mangal Graha.
The team is working on additives that could slow down the hardening process, making it more workable for construction tasks.
The ExTeM initiative at IIT-Madras is not limited to concrete; it encompasses a wide array of projects aimed at supporting long-term human presence in space.
The team is investigating various materials and manufacturing processes that could be utilized both in space and on Prithvi.
This includes the development of metal foams for lightweight construction and optical fibres for communication and other applications.
