CFD Analysis of Mars Phoenix Capsules at Mach Number 10

Abstract

Numerical simulations are performed for flow over Phoenix entry vehicle at Mars at zero angle of Attack and Mach number 10. Flow field features like bow shock, shear layers, expansion fan and separation bubble will be captured using CFD commercial package FLUENT. The computed wall data of pressure and temperature will be compared with experimental results at Mars atmospheric conditions. This project deals with the study of flow over Phoenix entry vehicle at Mach number 10. The concept of atmospheric entry has applications in various fields. Vehicles that typically undergo this process include exo-orbital trajectories. In this project, the type of entry vehicle considered is entry capsule, which enters Mars atmosphere from an orbit. The primary design consideration of entry capsule requires large spherical nose radius of their fore body that gives high aerodynamic drag and a short body length for reducing the total structural weight and the ballistic coefficient.

Design and CFD Analysis on the Reduction of Thermal Effect in Re-entry Vehicle by Using Retractable Aerospike

“…The primary mechanism of drag and heating reduction is twofold: first, a much weaker oblique foreshock replaces the strong detached bow shock ahead of the blunt body; second, it encourages separation of the flow downstream of the foreshock and creates a recirculation zone that screens a large portion of the main body nose surface. The shear layer that encircles the recirculation zone reattaches to the main body surface, creating a shock wave that turns the outer flow at the body shoulder [17].…”

“…Uncontrolled objects accelerate through space toward the Earth under gravity and are slowed by friction when they come into contact with the Earth's atmosphere. Meteors are often relatively fast relative to the Earth because their orbital path differs from the Earth's before encountering the Earth'sgravity [17]. Most controlled objects enter at hypersonic, orbital, or unbounded speeds.…”