What engineering research field is concerned with the mechanics of adhesion; more specifically, how objects behave in soil media such as sand?

Question

I am interested in conducting a research project involving the design of a tool to aid astronauts to perform experiments on lunar surfaces, but I am having difficulties coming up with appropriate key words or questions to ask to begin my research. The specific scenario of focus is to design a tool that can act as an anchor in a sand-like medium on the surface of the moon; the goal is to design a tool with a method to dig/lodge/bury itself underneath the soil surface in a way such that removing the tool requires a maximal load. The research I will conduct is for the purpose of selecting an optimal geometry for the tool (i.e. my initial concept is a helical drill). As this phase of my project, I will assume the design will be rely on geometry alone, however, I may also incorporate applied forces within the tool in some way (i.e. pneumatics) to aid anchoring. I am interested in this topic in order to submit a proposal to the NASA Micro-g NeXT challenge (you can see their webpage for more details). Is this design problem related to fluid mechanics, and if so, what sub-discipline of fluid mechanics is concerned with modelling the behavior of dry, granular media such as sand?

Answer 1

Your problem doesn't fit neatly into one field of engineering.

Adhesion and setting of a chemical grout will come under fluid mechanics and possibly mechanical engineering.

A mechanical anchoring device fits into mechanical engineering.

How the soil and/or rock behaves when the anchor is embedded into it will be covered by the field of geomechanical/geotechnical engineering.

Answer 2

I would say mechanical engineering with specialization in nano-technologies and tribology. On Uni I've had a few subjects covering adhesion like Tribology, Nano-technologies etc. However also physicists and chemical engineers cover this phenomena as well, but only mechanical engineers and partially physicists cover the mechanical aspect of it.

Answer 3

You seem to be describing a tent peg. This should be in civil engineering or geotechnics. My search phrases would be ground achors for large tents and the like. You could also draw a picture of how your anchor will look like and what forces will act on it and ask for similar use cases, this would give you more ideas.

CE/geotechnics deals with friction on parts embedded in ground and the like, so it should be your friend.