Methods for Improved Airbag Performance for Airdrop

Abstract

Airbags are currently being investigated as a ground impact energy absorber for U.S. Army airdrops. Simple airbags with constant vent areas have been studied previously by numerous investigators. In this research effort, a method of controlling the vent area and a method of injecting gas into a simple airbag to improve its performance, i.e., to decrease its peak C force, were analytically and experimentally investigated. In addition, augmented simple airbags using paper honeycomb as an auxiliary energy absorber were also experimentally investigated. Complex airbags using vent-control and gas- injection and augmented airbags were found to decrease the peak G forces of simple airbags by 30%. Results of these investigations are presented in this report. Test and evaluation, Airbags, Impact attenuation, Energy absorbers, Soft landing, Airdrop Operations, Ground impact.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA257953

Entities

People

  • Calvin K Lee

Organizations

  • United States Army Soldier Systems Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Flow
  • Air Pressure
  • Air Supplies
  • Compressed Air
  • Differential Equations
  • Drop Tests
  • Energy Absorbers
  • Engineering
  • Equations
  • Flow Rate
  • High Pressure
  • Measurement
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Pressure Measurement
  • Pressure Transducers
  • Solenoid Valves
  • Test And Evaluation

Readers

  • Aerial Delivery - Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
  • Aviation Science / Aeronautics.
  • Structural Dynamics.