Propeller Slipstream Interference with Wing Aerodynamic Characteristics of Mars Airplane at Low Reynolds Number

Abstract

A flow condition on the wing of Mars airplane becomes low Reynolds number (10⁴ to 10⁵) for a reason of low atmospheric density on the Mars. However an effect of a propeller slipstream for the wing at low Reynolds number is not clear. We measured aerodynamic force on three types of airfoil with/without the propeller, and visualized flow field on the wing surface. From the results of force measurement, aerodynamic characteristics of the flat plate was almost unaffected by propeller stream. However aerodynamic characteristics of the Ishii airfoil and NACA0012 were changed by propeller slipstream. To see the results of visualization, the flow separation was prevented by the effect of propeller slipstream. These results caused the changes in aerodynamic characteristics.