Lunar Dust GRID System: Thermomechanical Study of a Charged Dust Analyser for the Lunar Surface

This work presents the thermo-mechanical design of LD GRIDS (Lunar Dust GRID System), a dust analyser developed for the characterisation of the lunar environment. Starting from previous feasibility studies, which assessed the feasibility of the development of the sensing elements (i.e. sensing grids), the design is refined, defining the mechanical structure for hosting the sensing elements, with particular attention to thermal loads, mechanical integrity, and dynamic behaviour. A design solution able to provide required compliance for the in-plane thermal deformations while preserving out-of-plane stiffness and alignment of the sensing grids was detailed. The design is evaluated through a comprehensive numerical campaign including sensitivity, modal, quasi-static, thermo-elastic, and random vibration analyses. Results showed that the selected configuration satisfies dynamic requirements, maintaining stress state within acceptable limits under the simulated loading conditions, and meets applicable safety margins. A mock-up was manufactured to validate the developed design, supporting future experimental validation preliminarily. The experimental outcomes confirm the suitability of the proposed design for further experimental assessment, mainly focusing on qualification and functionality assessment in a representative environment.