Numerical Study on Suction Control for Rotor Blade Airfoil Under Martian Atmosphere

Mars exploration is a hotspot in human planetary exploration. Rotary unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) offer advantages such as vertical takeoff/landing and flexibility, enhancing Mars exploration efficiency. However, the low temperature and low density Martian atmosphere lead to the rotor flow field being in a low Reynolds and high Mach number state, causing laminar separation and impacting aerodynamics. To improve Martian rotorcraft aerodynamics, the NACA0012-34 rotor airfoil’s aerodynamic characteristics and surface suction control technology were studied numerically under Martian conditions. By obtaining the NACA0012-34 airfoil’s basic flow characteristics in the Martian atmosphere, the suction control technology was proposed, the effects and mechanisms of surface suction on inhibiting laminar separation and enhancing airfoil lift were studied, the influence of suction position, velocity ratio, and hole width on flow control effectiveness was explored. Findings demonstrate effective suppression of laminar separation and enhanced airfoil lift through suction control under the Martian atmosphere. The relative position of the suction hole and the separation starting point is a critical factor in determining the effectiveness of suction control. Moreover, selecting an appropriate suction velocity ratio and suction hole width can further contribute to increasing the lift of the airfoil.