Abstract: The mechanism of cone penetration tests under low gravity (1/6g, 1/2g and 1g) fields is investigated by means of the distinct element method (DEM). The results show that (1) the cone tip resistance increases with the increase of gravity acceleration at the same relative penetration depth, while the normalized cone tip resistance presents the opposite trend; (2) the required depth, which the deformation pattern of the ground changes from swelling to compression, decreases with the increase of gravity acceleration; (3) the swelling deformation of characteristic points decreases with the increase of gravity acceleration at the same relative penetration depth, but the compression deformation and lateral displacement show the opposite trend; (4) the smaller gravity acceleration leads to the more apparent loading and unloading phenomena at the same relative position; (5) the larger gravity acceleration results in the larger failure zone at the same relative penetration depth.