Study on Dynamic Characteristics of Mars Entry Module in Transonic and Supersonic Speeds

Abstract

The aerodynamic configuration of the Tianwen-1 Mars entry module that adopts a blunt-nosed and short body shape has obvious dynamic instability from transonic to supersonic speeds, which may bring risk to parachute deployment. The unsteady detached eddy of the entry module cannot be accurately simulated by the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) model, while the computational cost for direct numerical simulation (DNS) and large eddy simulation (LES) is huge. It is difficult to implement these methods in the coupled engineering calculation of unsteady flow and motion. This paper proposes the integrated numerical simulation method of computational fluid dynamics and rigid body dynamics (CFD/RBD) based on detached eddy simulation (DES) and calculates and studies the dynamic characteristics of attitude oscillation of the Mars entry module in free flight from transonic to supersonic speeds with one degree of freedom (1-DOF) at small releasing angle of attack. In addition, the unstable range of Mach number and angle of attack are determined, and the effect of different afterbody shapes on dynamic stability is analyzed.