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Airfoil Selection for Mars Rotor ApplicationsThis short white paper is aimed at providing an overview of design considerations for airfoil choices for rotor applications in the Martian atmosphere, at very low chord-based Reynolds number flows, around Rec = O (103 -104). The low Reynolds number typical of rotorcraft operation in the Martian atmosphere reduces the rotor lifting force and efficiency, which is only partially compensated for by a lower gravity on Mars. Additionally, the low temperature and largely CO2 based atmosphere of Mars compound the overall aerodynamic problem by resulting in a lower speed of sound, further constraining rotor operation in the Martian atmosphere by limiting the maximum rotor tip speed possible so as not to exceed an acceptable tip Mach number. In light of the expected reduced rotor efficiency, evaluating airfoils for compressible, low-Reynolds number Mars rotor applications is key. Prior research on airfoil optimization and performance evaluation at low Reynolds numbers, especially in the compressible regime, is scarce and deserves further understanding. Specifically, the proposed goal stemming from this overview is to develop airfoils tailored to the unique demands of the second generation of Mars rotorcraft, i.e. the Mars Science Helicopter (MSH). This research focuses on the airfoil performance at low Reynolds numbers and hopes to add to the work performed by, amongst others, Kroo et al., Kunz and Kroo, Oyama and Fujii, Anyoji et al.
Document ID
20190031929
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Koning, Witold J. F.
(Science and Technology Corp. Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
October 2, 2019
Publication Date
July 1, 2019
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
ARC-E-DAA-TN70055
NASA/CR-2019-220236
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNA16BD60C
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Technical Review
NASA Peer Committee
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