Design, Fabrication and Testing of an Airdrop Platform Utilizing Airbags as Shock Absorbers

Abstract

The platform is a prototype, utilizing airbags for ground impact energy dissipation. The prototype was developed to assess the feasibility of using the proposed arrangement to cushion the impact of gliding parachute delivered cargos. The platform will be referred to as the Airbag Gliding Airdrop Reusable Platform (AGARP). The prototype airdrop platform consists of four cylindrical airbags sandwiched between upper and lower plates. The ends of the airbags are fastened to the plates. Air from the bags is exhausted through orifice holes which are an integral part at the lower plate. Foam cushions, referred to as bump stops, are mounted on the upper surface of the lower plate. Motion of one plate with respect to the other is constrained by a number of straps. Keywords: Airdrop platform, Aerial delivery, Landing impact, Impact shock, Air drop operations, Airbags, Energy dissipation, Ground shock, Platforms.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1985
Accession Number
ADA199593

Entities

People

  • Timothy F. Patterson

Organizations

  • United States Army Soldier Systems Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Barometric Pressure
  • Cameras
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Engineering
  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Geometry
  • Impact Shock
  • Load Cells
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Mechanics
  • Parachute Canopies
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Pressure Transducers
  • Relative Motion
  • Shock Absorbers

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Aerial Delivery - Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
  • Explosive Engineering.
  • Structural Dynamics.