Particle shape and size predict asteroid strength, revealing Bennu's surface is 50 times weaker than ground coffee
In a new Nature Communications study, researchers developed a universal scaling framework for the strength of granular asteroids, showing that their tensile strength can be predicted from the size and shape of their constituent particles.
A new study published in Nature Communications has found that the strength of small asteroids, like Bennu, can be predicted based on the size and shape of their particles. Bennu, Ryugu and Itokawa are not solid rocks but rather granular asteroids composed of dust, rock and boulders held together by gravity and weak cohesive forces.
Previous simulations only accounted for spherical particles, but this study incorporated realistic particle shapes into the simulations, revealing that angular and irregular grains significantly impact the asteroid's strength. Researchers developed a framework that takes into account the size and shape of the particles, as well as van der Waals forces between fine grains, to determine the tensile strength of the asteroid.
The framework predicts that the surface of Bennu is 50 times weaker than coffee ground, with a strength of below 1 pascal. This discovery offers valuable insight into the composition and behavior of these asteroids.
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