A Computational Model That Couples Aerodynamic and Structural Dynamic Behavior of Parachutes during the Opening Process

Abstract

In parachute research, the canopy inflation process is the least understood and most complex to model. Unfortunately, it is during the opening process that the canopy often experiences the largest deformations and loadings. The complexity of modelling the opening process stems from the coupling between the structural dynamics of the canopy, lines and payload with the aerodynamics of the surrounding fluid medium. The addition of a computational capability to model the coupled opening behavior would greatly assist in the understanding of the canopy inflation process. ongoing research at the U.S. Army Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center (Natick) focuses on this coupled problem. The solution to the coupled problem is expected to assist in the development of future U.S. Army airdrop systems which include the capability of deploying at low altitudes and high speeds. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code and structural dynamic mass spring damper (MSD) code are coupled with an explicit marching method. The CFD flow solver provides the differential pressure values at node points along a radial which are used as input in the MSD model. The MSD code integrates the equations of motion for the canopy and returns current nodal positions and velocities to the CFD code. The node points on the MSD model coincide with a unique set of adjacent CFD grid points for all time. This coupled model predicts behavior for a quarter-scale C-9 parachute which compares favorably with experimentally determined behavior....Parachute models, Computational fluid dynamics, Aerodynamic Characteristics, Mass spring damping system, Structural analysis, Fluid-structure interaction, Parachute opening.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1993
Accession Number
ADA264115

Entities

People

  • Earl C. Steeves
  • Keith R. Stein
  • Richard J. Benney

Organizations

  • United States Army Soldier Systems Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerodynamic Characteristics
  • Aerodynamics
  • Altitude
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Computational Science
  • Couplings
  • Differential Equations
  • Dynamics
  • Engineering
  • Equations
  • Equations Of Motion
  • Flow Fields
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Geometry
  • Low Altitude
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Pressure Distribution

Readers

  • Aerial Delivery - Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Structural Dynamics.