A Numerical Investigation into Transonic Flight on Mars Utilizing a 2-D URANS Approach
M.S. Westheim (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
Roland Schmehl – Mentor (TU Delft - Wind Energy)
F. Avallone – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Wind Energy)
Theo Michelis – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Aerodynamics)
M Kotsonis – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Aerodynamics)
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Abstract
Interest in powered flight on Mars has been growing in recent years, and as such new developments are being made in determining the effects the Martian atmosphere has on the flow physics and performance, specifically with regards to similarity parameters: the Reynolds number & the Mach number. This paper aimed to investigate whether the onset of transonic flight could result in decreased separation while improving aerodynamic performance due to the presence of a smeared shock. 2-D URANS simulations of a NACA-0012-34 airfoil were conducted with a SST k-w, y-intermittency model. The results find that an expansion fan delays separation, while the smeared shock weakens the adverse pressure gradient, similar to a shock control bump. The result is a minute increase in the lift-to-drag performance. The development of coherent structures within the separated shear-layer have also been seen to be impacted due to the stabilizing effect of compressibility on the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability.