Plume-Surface Interaction (PSI) between lander engine plumes and landing area regolith poses risks to the landers and space exploration missions through view obscuration and high-energy ejecta impacts from eroded particle clouds and vehicle tilting from plume-induced craters. To address these risks, NASA MSFC Fluid Dynamics Branch (ER42) has developed a cascade of predictive simulation capabilities for PSI, including the recent development of a hybrid CFD/engineering model tool that allows for rapid PSI simulations with a descending/ascending vehicle and an eroding surface. The development of this fully-coupled, moving body/eroding surface simulation capability is detailed along with a demonstration of the tool’s capabilities on the Apollo 12 Lunar Module landing. Predictions of eroded mass flow rates as a function of time are verified against Apollo 12 flight data, from which the developed, viscous erosion model has been calibrated.


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    Title :

    A Hybrid CFD/Engineering Model Tool for Lunar Lander Surface Erosion Prediction


    Contributors:
    Andrew Weaver (author) / Thomas Shurtz (author) / Peter Liever (author) / Tim Dawson (author) / Jason Howison (author) / Jeffrey West (author)

    Conference:

    19th ASCE ASD Biennial International Conference on Engineering, Science, Construction and Operations in Challenging Environment (Earth & Space) ; 2024 ; Miami, FL, US


    Type of media :

    Miscellaneous


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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