Optimizing cementitious mortars for lunar construction: a multi-criteria decision-making approach

This study investigates eight cementitious materials for lunar construction to support sustainable habitats in the Moon's extreme environment. The materials, geopolymer, sintered material, polymer-bound regolith, regolith-based magnesium oxychloride, Ordinary Portland cement (OPC), sulfur concrete, microbial-induced calcite precipitation, and geo-thermite products, were evaluated using fifteen criteria, including availability, water use, curing time, temperature resilience, strength, durability, and radiation shielding. The Entropy Weight Method (EWM) was used to assign objective weights, identifying temperature as the most critical factor. Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques, TOPSIS, VIKOR, and WASPAS, ranked materials based on normalized data and stakeholder input. Geopolymer and sintered material emerged as top performers, followed by polymer-bound regolith and magnesium oxychloride. OPC, sulfur concrete, microbial calcite, and geo-thermite ranked lower. This rigorous, transparent framework enables informed selection of efficient, durable materials for lunar infrastructure, advancing long-term space exploration. The methodology is adaptable and minimizes bias, offering a reliable path toward resilient extraterrestrial construction.