Updated: August 14, 2025

Dr. Qiushi Chen is a Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Clemson University, specializing in geomechanics and computational modeling of granular materials and geomaterials. He chairs the ASCE Computational Geotechnics Committee and serves on review panels for multiple federal funding agencies. A member of the editorial board for Computers and Geotechnics, Dr. Chen also co-edits special issues for several other journals. His pioneering research involves developing a discrete element model (DEM) for the IPEx bucket drum-lunar regolith system, calibrated using BP-1 lunar simulant experimental data. The model accurately simulates excavation forces, torque behavior, and mass accumulation rates, with lunar gravity conditions showing reduced force and torque compared to Earth. This work supports future analyses of various drum sizes, speeds, and advanced control integrations for space excavation missions.