Simulation tool development for the final descent phase

In order to understand the 2018 and 2019 wind tunnel test campaigns' results, a general study campaign has been ordered to the Huygens Aerodynamic Investigation project. The final goal is to try to understand the probe behavior during the final descent under the stabilizing drogue and to figure out what caused the rotational direction to reverse. The final results could be useful for future atmospheric re-entry missions, due to a better understanding of what can happen during a re-entry. This work is carried out by five students of Polytech Orléans, two 5A supervisors (Léo and Rémy) and three 4A assistant engineers (Eddy, Simon, and Asamaning).

The final descent is modelized through the Fundamental Principle of Dynamics and will be simulated on MATLAB (a programming platform designed specifically for engineers and scientists). Different forces such as Aerodynamics, Weight, and Drag induced by the probe's complex and asymmetrical geometry are taken into account. These forces will help in making a more realistic simulation of the probe's dynamics during the descent. SolidWorks (a Computer-Aided Design software) will also be used to create a simplistic model of the probe, which is mandatory to develop primary models.

Task

1. What has already been done

A study of the final descent has already been done. Aerospatiale, the creator of the probe and Vorticity, a specialized engineering consultant office, have proposed two different models. Vorticity tried various configurations to find what caused the inversion of the rotational direction. The HASI (Huygens Atmospheric Structure Instrument) arms have been depicted as important and need further investigation.

2. Our model: from simple to complex

The first step will be to make a simplified model, and each time the results are conclusive, new parameters will be added to get closer to reality. In the beginning, the problem will only consider a point with spin vanes descending at a constant velocity, when the last model will take into consideration wind, the angle of attack, atmospherics parameters and all degrees of freedom.

Final goal

A simulation tool with an interface needs to be created to have full control over which parameters we decide to take into account to run the simulation. This tool will allow the model to be adaptable to a different configuration.