Customizable struts for regolith-shielded dugout houses

thingiverse

In a Martian dugout shelter, angled struts form the roof after digging out the living space. Excavated regolith is piled on top, providing radiation shielding for inhabitants. The design is customizable, enabling adjustments to width, angle, wall thickness, and bin thickness by the Mars crew based on local regolith properties. To construct this shelter, follow steps such as soil analysis, determining suitable ice percentages in the regolith, setting angles and thicknesses according to radiation levels and wind resistance, and printing struts simultaneously with excavation. After pouring regolith over the structure, install a door and stairs, then cover the living space with insulation and an impermeable membrane. Optionally, create a dugout greenhouse by filling with transparent water ice.