CFD Modeling Analysis of a Martian Rotorcraft with Individual Blade Control

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was conducted on a proposed blade root-actuated Individual Blade Control (IBC) system for future Martian rotorcraft. IBC offers many potential benefits to rotary-winged exploration of Mars, including precision control of rotor blade forces. This study seeks to provide an estimate of rotor blade force and system power as a basis for concept feasibility analysis and experimental prototyping. ANSYS Fluent was used to compute blade pitching moment, lift, and drag under various feathering waveforms, amplitudes, biases, and frequencies. It is determined that the rapid feathering characteristic of IBC has a non-negligible impact on blade forces. It is also found that actuators with power ratings on the order of 101 W are likely sufficient for blade actuation on Martian rotorcraft.