Investigation on Computing Method of Martian Dust Fluid Based on the Energy Dissipation Method

Abstract EN

In this paper, an initiative Martian dust fluid simulating research based on the energy dissipation method was developed to simulate the deposition process of Martian dust fluid which was caused by surface adhesion between particles and Martian rovers.

Firstly, an energy dissipation model of particles based on the Discrete Element Method (DEM) was established because of the characteristics of Martian dust particles such as tiny size and viscoelasticity.

This model is based on the existing DMT model to analyze the collision deposition of dust fluid particles, including particle-spacecraft collision and particle-particle collision.

Secondly, this paper analyzed the characteristics of particles after their first collision, then, established the stochastic model of critical wind speed for the particle deposition process.

Finally, a series of simulations of the Martian dust fluid particle deposition process were done based on DEM-CFD.

The results verified the accuracy of the energy dissipation model and the stochastic model, which could also verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the computing method of Martian dust fluid based on the DEM-CFD technology.