Fawzan Mohamed Kareem Navaz, a final-year aerospace engineering student, and Kareena Mueenuddin, a final-year mechatronics engineering student at Amity University Dubai, have achieved a significant milestone under the mentorship of Dr. Sarath Raj. Their research paper, titled "Simulation of Lunar Habitat Structural Integrity Under Impact and Micrometeoroid Collision," was awarded the Outstanding Research Paper Award at the UAE Space Agency's Space Research Conference 2024.
The paper tackles the critical challenge of creating resilient lunar habitats capable of withstanding the moon's harsh environment, especially micrometeoroid impacts. Employing Finite Element Modelling, the research simulated the behavior of advanced materials like Ti-6AL-4V titanium alloy and carbon fiber under impact conditions. The aim was to assess the performance of these materials to improve habitat safety and structural durability for future lunar exploration. The findings from this research can greatly aid in creating more robust and resilient lunar habitats.
