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#1 2020-11-21 19:07:56

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 6,976

Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

I am interested in making structure from the natural materials that seem to exist where ice slabs are in the temperate regions of Mars.
I am interested in the apex.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apex_(geometry)
While of course we might think to make pyramids on Mars, I am more thinking of berms, with vaults in them.  The vaults likely would require an arch of a suitable materials such as bricks of quality.
f6FsLTP.png
Dark blue to the south might be ice covered water, dark blue to the north would be ice.  This is for the northern hemisphere.
Black is a vault, apparently the lights are turned out, or else my paint mysteriously only wanted to use black and I gave up.
At the ends of the berms ice could be mined to create a hollow which would be filled with regolith removed from the area of the construction.  My notion of mining would be to have solar powered tents that could be moved.  The evaporation from the ice to be captured and compressed into make-up water.
So, this thing could expand eastward and westward.
What else to include?
Well what might you like?
Solar panels on the south face?
A solar receiver on the apex?
Heliostats to point light to the apex receiver?
-------
This does not say that you cannot also include your glass greenhouses and domes proximate to it.
-------
A concern is that in some locations the pyramid/berm would be undermined by melting permafrost.  So, that has to be considered/handled.
That's a start.....
Done.

Last edited by Void (2020-11-22 09:24:58)


Done.

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#2 2020-11-22 09:25:25

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 6,976

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

Here is a top view of the previous image, a possible version.
cB1Lc5o.png

I am hoping that this method might work for low quality compressed materials for the Pyramid/Berm:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn6tyBrYzTk

So, perhaps this says what the problem is with the insight mole.  It's making a brick under it.

I like this method, as it has a body, and two "Mouths".  One East, One West.

I feel that it could make sense to bond solar panels directly to the south face of the structure.  This would help to cool the panels during day, and of course night cold would be what provides the cooling.

A different energy collection method would be to have a pipe(s), on the apex, that heliostats could focus reflected sunlight on.  A fluid needed inside.  I think water steam might do.  As long is you design correctly and don't fill the pipes with liquid water, maybe they would not burst in the night cold.  Also, it would make sense to drain off water and steam when that was a danger.

The steam, then could be used to warm the vault(s).  These might be massive enough to stay warm enough for human survival, during dust storm activity.

Food stuffs could be stored on the north side of the berm, by some method or another frozen or freeze dried.  Rats and other pests would not occur in Martian atmosphere.

And we have Ice Slabs of enormous size as we have seen before:
https://www.space.com/30502-mars-giant- … y-mro.html

So such a Mars Worm Berm smile could continue for far distances East and West.  You could of course start other ones further south or north.

I would think that the ice covered bodies of water would nominally be of "Ice Water".  Well actually, if fresh water then 32 degF to 39 degF.
Not going to bother with Metric this time of course 0 degC to 3.88888889 degC   OK, I did.

While this might support aquiculture, I would also want to have transparent/translucent of Plastic? filled with water, and heated with the steam from the apex pipes.   This could allow fast growing aquatic plants to thrive.  (The bags would be down below the ice).

And of course then if someone wants to make glass domes, and greenhouses, then go right ahead.  Practice makes perfect.

As I mention in the last post, foundations for these things will be very important.  Handling building in a permafrost region.  Bedrock would be good.  Or perhaps microwaves and salt water could allow you to extract the water very deep, so it would not be such a problem.

Done.

Last edited by Void (2020-11-22 09:48:08)


Done.

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#3 2020-11-22 10:21:00

RobertDyck
Moderator
From: Winnipeg, Canada
Registered: 2002-08-20
Posts: 7,782
Website

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

In the early years of the Mars Society, an engineer named Bruce Mackenzie proposed brick structures for Mars. He pointed out brick could be made easily from Mars regolith by added water, pressing in a mould and lightly heating. He proposed Roman architecture using brick: barrel vaults, groin vaults, etc. To ensure pressure didn't blow out the bricks, he proposed burying the brick structure in regolith so deep that the weight from overburden would exceed pressure from air inside. And because this counters one force with another, yes it would be weight, not mass. To ensure brick walls don't blow out sideways, you also have to pile regolith on the sides.

A brilliant design, and Bruce is a friend. He was founder of the Mars Homestead Project, and he invited me to be part of it. I was honoured. Because brick was his thing, of course brick was part of Mars Homestead. However, I had to point out that air pressure will find a way out. With nothing but brick and mortar holding in pressure, air will find a weakness and erode a crack into a channel. The air will blow a path through the regolith back to the surface. This will leak. So the other leader of Mars Homestead (at the time) Mark Homnick suggested we paint the brick with a sealant. Ok, that'll work. The sealant would have to be painted on the inside of the brick to ensure pressure presses it against the brick. Furthermore, near the edge of the berm (Mars Homestead phase 1 used a hillside) where an access door pierces the berm/hill, there will be little regolith holding in the brick. So we chose to use some other material for access tunnels. Around a door or anything too close to the surface, we could use fibreglass or aluminum or steel.

Some historical vaults:
vault-types-ribs-barrel-groin-rib-cross.jpg
Cloister vault:
220px-Klostervalv.png 220px-Rome_synagogue_dome_view_from_the_hill_Aventine.JPG

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#4 2020-11-22 11:05:26

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 6,976

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

Very helpful and interesting materials Robert!

When getting at the ice, we also have to deal with regolith, so why not build stuff out of it?   I think it would be more efficient than tunneling downward.

Things that might crack the structure would be settling, Marsquakes, and thermal cooling seasonal and during a dust storm.

As for Marsquakes, the ones discovered so far are rather mild.  However I would not trust that.  It could be that now and then Mars really rips it's crust.  For instance if a large volcano having cooled and contracted, perhaps it separates from the surrounding crust and falls down a bit.  Not very often, but that could really shake things up.

So, the coating you recommend should have some flex and stretch in it, I would think.

In addition, I think vaults could have graded safety ratings.   The best would be maintained better, and may be suitable for human habitation.

Less well kept vaults could be for industrial processes which may also even be toxic in results, so perhaps it would always be wise to wear a suit like a SpaceX flight suit in them, both to deal with toxic situations, and maybe sudden depressurization.

------

Also, I would mention, that it would not hurt to have some nuclear power with the setup, to help keep people warm and in lighting in adverse situations.

------

And maybe the Perchlorates could be collected out of the soil and stored for an Oxygen supply in adverse situations such as Global Dust Storms.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Ob … &FORM=VIRE


Thanks again for posting.

Done.

Last edited by Void (2020-11-22 11:18:13)


Done.

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#5 2020-11-22 20:40:36

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,750

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

I know that we have talked about bricks in several topics and here is a paper for PRODUCING A BRICK FROM A MARTIAN SOIL SIMULATE

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#6 2020-11-23 04:56:59

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 6,976

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

------
Yes bricks have been on various minds.
I would like to deviate from the use of individual bricks, based on the notion that Martian soil can be compressed into singular objects due, it is said to the higher levels of iron oxide that is apparently present in Martian soil.
If you review my two illustrations, what I would now like to contemplate is a form, which based on those illustrations would be of an arch. (In this case).  It might alternately be tubular.
The form should be in the nature of a cylinder, possibly modified into an arch shape.  It would be inflated with Martian air to make it expand a bit.  It would also be tapered just a bit, so that the smaller end would point towards the existing previously built structure.  Regolith would be packed onto it possibly with some pressing actions, until it was the form of an apex.  It would be remembered that the apex berm would be self compressing.  Supposedly the iron oxide will then connect the particles to each other something like concrete.
The next step would be to have the metal form at a temperature of perhaps 25-32 degF.  No metric this time.  It slows me down.
Next, a mixture of water and Urea is injected to the outside of the mould.  Bacteria are used to plasticise the adjacent regolith.  Possibly funji is an alternative.
And yes, the process may involve water loss, but we would have giant slabs of ice the size of American states for make-up water.
You allow the bacteria or Funjii to do their work, then you cool the interior of the mould at night with ratiators.  Then you vent the pressurized gas in the morning,  Then a tractor of size pulls the mould forward, and you repeat....repeat.....repeat.
The structure built might be allowed to settle for a period of time to reveal cracks, and those might be patched.
It might be good also to have some type of stretchable liner added, particularly if it is to be an area were people would not normally wear emergency minimal space suits.
I think that is a bit of progress.

I cannot complete spell checking, at this time, as if I linger a bit suddenly my screen locks up, and I can't even log out.

Done.

Last edited by Void (2020-11-23 05:02:23)


Done.

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#7 2020-11-23 11:09:55

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,750

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

I have noticed this same issue as many websites are wanting the new Microsoft edge or chrome to view there respective pages. The web pages are embedding long running scripts that do not end tying up the computers resources aka beaconing that was found on the yahoo pages.

Back to the pyramid shape as RobertDyck noted we need to seal as we build to equalize the pressure inside versus the pressure created by the mass of the materials making up the structure.

I think that passing a current through the iron rich regolith which would cause it to become more solid as if its a cast iron by doing so. That said a mix of ore with just the right chemistry to cause the arc to pass through it to make a material as if it got welded in place. If this is done in thin layers its would require less countermeasure mass to equalize the internal air pressures forces that want to lift and push through that material as well.

Sort of like we might 3D print the support structures to bear the weight of the regolith shielding materials.

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#8 2020-11-23 11:34:16

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 16,760

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

For Void .... since this is a topic for which you are the creator and manager, I am aware of your preference that no one intrude

However, SpaceNut just made a contribution that begs for a nod to a now deceased engineer I met at the local Maker Space ....

There is a substance called 'thermite" that has the helpful property of containing chemicals which hold a substantial quantity of potential energy locked up in a solid form.  This substance has been used for many years as a welding agent in remote locations, such as railroads far from civilization.

I'd like to honor the memory of the deceased engineer by inviting you (and other forum members who may be qualified) to imagine a chemical makeup of the berms you are designing, so that they can be ignited in a manner similar to thermite, to produce (through combustion) a strong structure able to withstand whatever Marsquakes may occur, in addition to decades or perhaps centuries of service as passive structural members.

Caliban has spoken often of "embedded" energy ... the berms "made" in this way would certainly reflect energy investment.

(th)

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#9 2020-11-23 12:29:43

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 6,976

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

------

Well (th), I was already going to propose that we allow for multiple options for methods.  I am older, so it gets harder to realize that others may still have things to teach me.  Grumpy perhaps to a bit.  I don't mind input, but when I am on a certain track, I guess I should make allowances that someone else may have conceived of something I had not.
So, I propose that the common eliments are a mold, perhaps a pyramid of compacted Martian regolith, and some way to upgrade the strenth and reliability of the more interior parts of the mass.  So I accept the alternatives and wish to be further instructed.
However, my part is remains to support my own proposals, and to listen with consideration, to other alternatives.  Thanks (th)!
I have read a bit about Thermite, interested.   But I should allow others to carry that forward, and I should continue myself with my own vision.  In other words I welcome alternate proposals.  Perhaps they might all have a place.
We are not haveing an argument, we are teaming up on this.
I like this one for my side:
https://www.themarysue.com/astronaut-pee-bricks/
https://www.themarysue.com/astronaut-pee-bricks/
I think it is too much pee for the astronauts to make, poor things.
So Urea and Calcium Chlorate would have to be manufactured for this project.
So, the arguments are mutual.  If you are going to use Thermite or something else, or if you are going to manufacture Urea and Calcium Chloride concentrates, it requires techniques and expending energy in both cases.
So, perhaps equally a problem.
I am not entirely satisfied with my previously proposed method of a form.  I am worried that it would stick inside of the formed mass.  So, I am thinking about a multifacited collapsable version perhaps involving hydrolics, and a significant strength in its interior members/beams.
-----
I sort of think of placing solar pannels on the south face of the pyramid/berm, and perhaps on the north face some kind of heavy oil, to retard deterioration.  Of course other methods could be considered.
-----
I am thinking of a sort of continuous if segmented form process, where your process takes in all the raw materials, regoith, and ice and perhaps things from the atmospehre, as if it were a mouth of a creature and forms a continuing extention of it's body.
I have not yet addressed partitioning, and also joining it to lakes, ice caves (For frozen and freeze dried foods, and yes glass domes, greenhouses, and advanced houses that use plastics and ice.  However to join them together would of course be the desire.
Please do post.  What we want is good results, however they can be obtained.
Done.


Done.

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#10 2020-12-02 10:44:50

jfenciso
Member
From: Philippines
Registered: 2018-10-27
Posts: 89
Website

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

Void wrote:

------

Well (th), I was already going to propose that we allow for multiple options for methods.  I am older, so it gets harder to realize that others may still have things to teach me.  Grumpy perhaps to a bit.  I don't mind input, but when I am on a certain track, I guess I should make allowances that someone else may have conceived of something I had not.
So, I propose that the common eliments are a mold, perhaps a pyramid of compacted Martian regolith, and some way to upgrade the strenth and reliability of the more interior parts of the mass.  So I accept the alternatives and wish to be further instructed.
However, my part is remains to support my own proposals, and to listen with consideration, to other alternatives.  Thanks (th)!
I have read a bit about Thermite, interested.   But I should allow others to carry that forward, and I should continue myself with my own vision.  In other words I welcome alternate proposals.  Perhaps they might all have a place.
We are not haveing an argument, we are teaming up on this.
I like this one for my side:
https://www.themarysue.com/astronaut-pee-bricks/
https://www.themarysue.com/astronaut-pee-bricks/
I think it is too much pee for the astronauts to make, poor things.
So Urea and Calcium Chlorate would have to be manufactured for this project.
So, the arguments are mutual.  If you are going to use Thermite or something else, or if you are going to manufacture Urea and Calcium Chloride concentrates, it requires techniques and expending energy in both cases.
So, perhaps equally a problem.
I am not entirely satisfied with my previously proposed method of a form.  I am worried that it would stick inside of the formed mass.  So, I am thinking about a multifacited collapsable version perhaps involving hydrolics, and a significant strength in its interior members/beams.
-----
I sort of think of placing solar pannels on the south face of the pyramid/berm, and perhaps on the north face some kind of heavy oil, to retard deterioration.  Of course other methods could be considered.
-----
I am thinking of a sort of continuous if segmented form process, where your process takes in all the raw materials, regoith, and ice and perhaps things from the atmospehre, as if it were a mouth of a creature and forms a continuing extention of it's body.
I have not yet addressed partitioning, and also joining it to lakes, ice caves (For frozen and freeze dried foods, and yes glass domes, greenhouses, and advanced houses that use plastics and ice.  However to join them together would of course be the desire.
Please do post.  What we want is good results, however they can be obtained.
Done.



Speaking of Urea and Calcium Chloride, make sure that this is available in Mars. It is not feasible if we transport a lot of resources on Mars. We need to promote and develop the "In-Situ Resource Utilization" or "ISRU" on Mars. NASA is currently working on the principles for Artemis Lunar Space Program.


I'm Jayson from the Philippines. Graduate of Master of Science in Botany at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna. I am specializing in Plant Physiology, and have a minor degree in Agronomy. My research interests are Phytoremediation, Plant-Microbe Interaction, Plant Nutrition, and Plant Stress Physiology.

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#11 2020-12-02 19:30:59

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 6,976

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

Both items should be available, but not without effort.

Calcium Chloride is expected on Mars, but would need refining.

As for Urea, I guess that has to be manufactured.  It is a substance that should be useful for other things.

The first step could be to extract Nitrogen from the Martian atmosphere.


Done.

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#12 2020-12-02 19:33:41

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,750

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

Urea is (NH2)2CO which can be done from waste propellant manufacturing as the movie units waste is 2CO and the electrolysis of water and co2 compression would gather the n2 from it.

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#13 2020-12-02 19:39:01

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 6,976

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

That is helpful.

This also could fit in:
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/sc … r-BB1bzjRK

It is the deal of extracting Oxygen from cold Martian brine.   The byproduct is Hydrogen.

The Hydrogen could be combined into a bio-chamber along with water and Martian atmosphere.   Methanogen microbes would process that and consume the CO2.  This would provide biomass, but they also make Methane from Hydrogen and CO2. 

The remainder then would be some Nitrogen and Argon.

I guess I don't have to go so much further to say that Ammonia and the Urea could be created from that input stream, Hydrogen, and CO2, I believe, at the cost of some energy.

I am not too bad today, but can't handle exertions.  Hoping to go for a test tommorrow.

Done.


Done.

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#14 2020-12-02 19:43:40

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,750

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

That's good to hear.
Saw this construction video
https://youtu.be/VxClOdqDGQ8 it's got other parts but I am sort of hampered by not having a computer to use for a few days until service is restarted. Take care....

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#15 2020-12-02 22:56:32

jfenciso
Member
From: Philippines
Registered: 2018-10-27
Posts: 89
Website

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

SpaceNut wrote:

Urea is (NH2)2CO which can be done from waste propellant manufacturing as the movie units waste is 2CO and the electrolysis of water and co2 compression would gather the n2 from it.

We need to look for a chemical engineer who has an interest in Mars. Their expertise would help to design about the refining and production of urea and calcium chloride.


I'm Jayson from the Philippines. Graduate of Master of Science in Botany at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna. I am specializing in Plant Physiology, and have a minor degree in Agronomy. My research interests are Phytoremediation, Plant-Microbe Interaction, Plant Nutrition, and Plant Stress Physiology.

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#16 2020-12-02 23:16:08

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 16,760

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

For jfenciso re #15

Are there any chemical engineers already enrolled in the forum?

How could you find out?

(th)

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#17 2020-12-02 23:27:29

jfenciso
Member
From: Philippines
Registered: 2018-10-27
Posts: 89
Website

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

tahanson43206 wrote:

For jfenciso re #15

Are there any chemical engineers already enrolled in the forum?

How could you find out?

(th)

If you make a thread about looking for a chemical engineer. To make it specific, try to make a thread about the compilation of experts here in this forum.


I'm Jayson from the Philippines. Graduate of Master of Science in Botany at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna. I am specializing in Plant Physiology, and have a minor degree in Agronomy. My research interests are Phytoremediation, Plant-Microbe Interaction, Plant Nutrition, and Plant Stress Physiology.

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#18 2020-12-03 01:40:46

kbd512
Administrator
Registered: 2015-01-02
Posts: 7,362

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

tahanson43206,

IIRC, Oldfart1939 is a chemical engineer.

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#19 2020-12-03 08:58:18

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 16,760

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

For kbd512 re #18

I'm trying to figure out if we have an information sink on our hands, or if there is a chance we may see a net positive contribution to the forum.

A search of the forum archive with the keywords chemical and engineer would have delivered the ID of Oldfart1939, and perhaps others as well.

A search of the forum archive with the keywords chemical and processing may yield results that include detailed discussion of the procedure.

The forum archive includes thousands of posts, some of which contain little nuggets of information that would (or at least could) be helpful to a person planning a career on Mars itself, or in helping others to succeed in moving to Mars and attempting to survive there.

That said, with the ID of Oldfart1939 revealed, it is now possible for someone interested in the chemistry of urea processing to create a question.

Alternatively, a person ** could ** perform a search of all posts by Oldfart1939, containing the word urea.

Edit#1: This topic is about Apex structures ... a discussion of urea would be valuable and it should continue in a topic better suited for it.

I am interested in making structure from the natural materials that seem to exist where ice slabs are in the temperate regions of Mars.
I am interested in the apex.

Urea is certainly a "natural" material, but to the best of my knowledge it does not currently exist near ice slabs on Mars.

For SpaceNut ... is there a topic you'd recommend for this discussion to continue?

(th)

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#20 2020-12-03 10:14:54

jfenciso
Member
From: Philippines
Registered: 2018-10-27
Posts: 89
Website

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

tahanson43206 wrote:

For kbd512 re #18

I'm trying to figure out if we have an information sink on our hands, or if there is a chance we may see a net positive contribution to the forum.

A search of the forum archive with the keywords chemical and engineer would have delivered the ID of Oldfart1939, and perhaps others as well.

A search of the forum archive with the keywords chemical and processing may yield results that include detailed discussion of the procedure.

The forum archive includes thousands of posts, some of which contain little nuggets of information that would (or at least could) be helpful to a person planning a career on Mars itself, or in helping others to succeed in moving to Mars and attempting to survive there.

That said, with the ID of Oldfart1939 revealed, it is now possible for someone interested in the chemistry of urea processing to create a question.

Alternatively, a person ** could ** perform a search of all posts by Oldfart1939, containing the word urea.

Edit#1: This topic is about Apex structures ... a discussion of urea would be valuable and it should continue in a topic better suited for it.

I am interested in making structure from the natural materials that seem to exist where ice slabs are in the temperate regions of Mars.
I am interested in the apex.

Urea is certainly a "natural" material, but to the best of my knowledge it does not currently exist near ice slabs on Mars.

For SpaceNut ... is there a topic you'd recommend for this discussion to continue?

(th)


The reason why I recommend chemical engineers instead of chemists because they are knowledgeable or master in crafting a pilot and small-scale design of a chemical plant. They know any chemical processes to produce an interesting chemical reagent like urea or calcium chloride.


I'm Jayson from the Philippines. Graduate of Master of Science in Botany at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna. I am specializing in Plant Physiology, and have a minor degree in Agronomy. My research interests are Phytoremediation, Plant-Microbe Interaction, Plant Nutrition, and Plant Stress Physiology.

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#21 2020-12-03 10:39:18

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 16,760

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

For jfenciso ...

This topic is about structures.  Please look for a topic where urea is more appropriate.

The manager of this topic is Void.  Void has expressed a preference that topics under his management stay on topic.

(th)

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#22 2020-12-03 15:13:36

Calliban
Member
From: Northern England, UK
Registered: 2019-08-18
Posts: 3,352

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

I like the idea.  To resist sideways atmospheric pressure, the berm would need quite a lot of overburden, so that the outward pressure is sufficiently resisted by static friction.  To produce such a structure, one could produce a compressive frame from cast basalt members, cover it with polythene and then just bulldoze overburden over the top of it.

I do wonder though if it would not be easier simply to dig a trench and site the structure at least partially underground.  This would minimise the amount soil that would need to be moved.


"Plan and prepare for every possibility, and you will never act. It is nobler to have courage as we stumble into half the things we fear than to analyse every possible obstacle and begin nothing. Great things are achieved by embracing great dangers."

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#23 2020-12-03 15:19:15

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 6,976

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

I am happy that this is stimulating your thinking.  I am receptive to all kinds of alternatives.  It would not be likely to be a "One Size Fits All" Mars.

------


I had this prepared before I read your post Callaban.

I don't mind talking about production of Urea on Mars.  However, existing tech, is easily looked up I believe.
I might be interested in the notion that microbes could be manufactured to produce it.
Nature would never stimulate the evolution of such, probably, but perhaps genetic engineering would be able to do it.   Mammals and some other creatures do it to consirve water in most cases.
In a previous post I suggested how to get a concentrate of Nitrogen and Argon from the Martian atmosphere.
I would suggest then introducting it to a bioreactor where that concentrate + Hydrogen + Oxygen + CO2, could be mixed.  Of course you would not want much in the way of gas bubbles in it, just gasses dissolved in a water solution.  The Hydrogen and Oxygen might give the microbes enough energy benefit that they might "Fix" Nitrogen into Urea.   This, if it could be done would be much simpler than manufacturing Ammonia and then Urea.
If you wanted Ammonia in some cases, then there are microbes that would extract it from the Urea.
But it is speculation.
------
I have decided to present a modification of the diagram of post #1 where I have indicated two changes.
hXAOevb.png
1) Extend the south apron, and make it a reflector to send more photons to the solar pannels on the south side of the apex structure.
2) Divide the "Dirt" pile into two sections with a plastic film.  I think this could be done during construction.  I have indicated a triangular cross section, as it is most convenient, but the shape of the plastic enclosure could be something else.
So, this would help hold in the solution of Calcium Chloride, and Urea in water.  This may allow for more pressure to be applied, allowing the temperatures to be higher, which may be more suitable for the microbes expected to to the work. 
The regolith inside of the bag might also include special additives such as fiber.
The finnished inner shell would be isolated from the outer "Jacket" of packed regolith, and this might inhibit the propagation of cracks from the outer body into the inner body, should the outer body shift a bit.
Done.


Done.

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#24 2022-08-02 04:25:00

Mars_B4_Moon
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Registered: 2006-03-23
Posts: 8,903

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

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#25 2022-08-27 09:37:47

Mars_B4_Moon
Member
Registered: 2006-03-23
Posts: 8,903

Re: Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars.

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