Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of Rotor Blade Aerodynamics for the Mars Ingenuity Helicopter

The Mars Ingenuity helicopter, a coaxial rotor aerial vehicle, is a pioneering venture into extraterrestrial flight. Rotorcraft technology plays a significant role in future mission development, as it offers advantages for specific applications, particularly in rugged terrain or confined spaces. Mars' landscape presents challenges, including unpredictable wind patterns and dust particles. To fly in the thin, predominantly carbon-dioxide-based atmosphere, rotor blades are designed for efficiency in low density environments with a large blade diameter. This work examines the aerodynamic performance of the blade configuration in a quadcopter Mars Ingenuity design using ANSYS FLUENT computational fluid dynamics. A detailed rotor blade model for CFD analysis has been developed for flow behavior around the rotor blades in Mars atmospheric conditions. Data from the Mars 2020 mission and the Mars Ingenuity Helicopter is used as a baseline. Extensive simulations are described for contour plots and flow vectors, focusing on vortex effects and performance in the Mars atmosphere. The study also addresses unsteady airflow around the rotor disk, leading to instabilities such as blade-vortex interactions and retreating blade stall. Future pathways include control aspects of the blade configuration and blade twist.