Observations on the Inflation Time and Inflation Distance of Parachutes

Abstract

This report summarizes the comments on parachute inflation time and distance from several of the author's previous publications. Additional information is included to explain how recovery systems opening shock forces are determined not only by the specified operational velocity, altitude, and trajectory angle, but are also determined by the initial program requirements of weight, rate of descent, equilibrium altitude, choice of parachute type, and canopy airflow. Two accepted axioms on the constancy of inflation distance and the effect of inflation time on the magnitude of the opening shock force are analyzed. The results verify that the inflation distance axiom is correct, and that the inflation time-opening shock axiom is not correct although it appears to be.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 28, 1988
Accession Number
ADA221167

Entities

People

  • William P. Ludtke

Organizations

  • Naval Surface Warfare Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altitude
  • Dynamic Pressure
  • Elastic Properties
  • Equations
  • Field Tests
  • Flow
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Geometry
  • Mass Flow
  • Materials
  • Military Research
  • Parachute Canopies
  • Parachutes
  • Pressure Distribution
  • Steady State
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Trajectories

Readers

  • Aerial Delivery - Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
  • Mathematics or Statistics