Researchers have developed a self-locking Afghan vault structure for lunar construction using sintered simulated lunar soil, identifying optimal construction angles ( α =30 ° and θ =80 °) that ensure structural stability under both static and seismic loads. Published in Smart Construction, this study provides a theoretical foundation for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) on the Moon, enabling the creation of robust, mortarless shielding shells to protect lunar habitats from radiation and meteorite impacts.
As humanity prepares for long-term stays on the Moon through projects like NASA’s Artemis and the International Lunar Research Station, a major challenge remains: how do we build on the lunar surface? Transporting heavy construction materials from Earth is prohibitively expensive. To solve this, researchers are turning to "In-Situ Resource Utilization" (ISRU)—essentially, building with what’s already there: lunar dust.
A team of researchers from Southeast University, Kyoto University, and other institutions has proposed a creative solution inspired by ancient architectural wisdom. Their study, published in the journal Smart Construction, introduces a self-locking "Afghan vault" structure made entirely from simulated lunar soil.
"The Moon is a harsh environment with no wood for scaffolding and no cement for mortar", explains Professor Jianguo Cai, the corresponding author of the study. "We needed a design that could support itself during construction and stay stable without any glue or binders".
The research team selected CUG-1A as the simulated lunar soil material. Through material similarity analysis, they determined that the standardized test specimen size should be a cube of 40mm × 40mm × 40mm. Then, they used the sintering process to manufacture the bricks, which involves heating the soil to bind particles together without melting them completely.
They tested various temperatures and pressure conditions to find the strongest formulation. The results showed that heating the soil to 1050°C under pressure produced the highest quality bricks with excellent strength and minimal cracks.
After determining the material properties of the specimens, the team applied these properties to model Afghan vault structures. The Afghan vault is a traditional building style that allows for the creation of arched roofs without any temporary support or timber frames. The bricks are stacked at specific angles so that they lock into each other using gravity and friction alone.
This vault is designed to act as an outer "shielding shell". Future lunar habitats could use inflatable modules for living space, covered by this sturdy, self-locking brick shell to protect astronauts from deadly space radiation and micro-meteorite impacts.
To ensure safety, the team used advanced computer simulations to test how the structure would perform under lunar gravity and even moonquakes. Through extensive finite element analysis, the team tested a range of geometric configurations under both static (self-weight) and dynamic (moonquake) loading conditions. They varied two key angles: the slope angle α and the composite angle θ .
Dr. Qian Zhang, the first author of the paper, noted, "We analyzed nine different structural configurations. Our simulations revealed that specific construction angles are critical for stability. We found that a slope angle of 30 degrees and a composite angle of 80 degrees offered the best performance against both static loads and seismic activity".
The study found that the stresses on the structure under lunar conditions were extremely low compared to the strength of the sintered bricks, indicating a substantial safety margin. This means the design is tolerant of potential material defects, which is crucial for construction in harsh extraterrestrial environments.
"This research provides a solid theoretical foundation for future lunar construction", says Professor Cai. "The identified parameters can guide autonomous robotic systems to build these structures without human intervention, ensuring stability throughout the construction process".
While the research is currently focused on computer and lab models, it lays the theoretical foundation for the first infrastructure development on the Moon. By combining ancient Earthly wisdom with 21st-century materials science, humanity is one step closer to calling the Moon "home".
This paper "Mechanical properties of Afghan vault integral structures based on simulated lunar soil" was published in Smart Construction (ISSN: 2960-2033), a peer-reviewed open access journal dedicated to original research articles, communications, reviews, perspectives, reports, and commentaries across all areas of intelligent construction, operation, and maintenance, covering both fundamental research and engineering applications. The journal is now indexed in Scopus , and article submission is completely free of charge until 2026 .
Zhang Q, Chen H, Zhang J, Qu Y, Kim S, et al. Mechanical properties of Afghan vault integral structures based on simulated lunar soil. Smart Constr . 2026(1):0004, https://doi.org/10.55092/sc20260004.
Smart Construction
Experimental study
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Mechanical properties of Afghan vault integral structures based on simulated lunar soil
13-Mar-2026