Abstract:
In order to investigate the impact of the Martian surface dust storm environment on probes and human activities, a Martian dust storm simulator based on a low-density open return wind tunnel was developed. A supersonic ejector was used as the power source of the wind tunnel, combined with a high volume pumping system with dynamic regulation capability for multiple working conditions. The accurate control of the injected air volume was achieved, and a simulation for large-span wind speed of 5 m/s to100 m/s under low pressure of 100 Pa to1500 Pa was realized. In response to the difficulty of the accurate controll of the dust concentration under low pressure, vibration feeding, reverse spiral nozzle design, and large period lag cascade regulation method were adopted for adjusting the dust concentration from 0.1 g/m
3 to 1 g/m
3. The simulator may be applied for studying the influence of Martian dust storm on materials and mechanisms, as well as for research of Martian aerodynamics.