A Model to Predict the Size of Regolith Clumps on Planetary Bodies

Abstract Prior investigations of the behavior regolith on surface planetary bodies has considered motion and interactions individual grains. Recent work shown significance cohesion in understanding regolith, especially small, airless bodies. Surficial grains may detach from a body due to variety phenomena, including aeolian effects, spacecraft operations, micrometeoroid bombardment, electrostatic lofting. It is well known terrestrial powder handling that cohesive powders tend form clumps. We present theory for size clumps are likely be easier than their constituent grains, assuming monodisperse, spherical The model predictions significant our interpretation asteroids, as phenomena designing sampling spacecraft.