High-fidelity simulation of a supersonic parachute for Mars descent

High-fidelity simulation of a supersonic parachute for Mars descent

L. Placco, F. Dalla Barba, F. Picano

Abstract. The project aims to characterize the unsteady dynamics of the parachute-capsule in a supersonic flow during the descent phase on planetary entry. Presently, Large-Eddy Simulation in combination with an Immersed-Boundary Method is employed to analyze the time-evolving flow of a rigid supersonic parachute trailing behind a reentry capsule during the descent phase through Mars atmosphere. The flow is simulated at Ma = 2 and Re = 106. A massive GPU parallelization is employed to allow a very high fidelity solution of the multiscale turbulent structures present in the flow that characterize its dynamics. We show how the interaction of wake turbulent structures with the bow shock produced by the supersonic decelerator induces strong unsteady dynamics. This unsteady phenomenon called ‘breathing instability’ is strictly related to the ingestion of turbulence by the parachute’s canopy and is responsible of drag variations and structure oscillations observed during previous missions and experimental campaigns. The next steps will take into account the flexibility of the parachute.

Keywords
Supersonic Parachute, Supersonic Flows, Large Eddy Simulation, Fluid-Structure Interaction

Published online 9/1/2023, 6 pages
Copyright © 2023 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA

Citation: L. Placco, F. Dalla Barba, F. Picano, High-fidelity simulation of a supersonic parachute for Mars descent, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 33, pp 134-139, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644902677-20

The article was published as article 20 of the book Aerospace Science and Engineering

Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.

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