Fluid physics of parachute inflation

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Physics Today; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.881361· OSTI ID:5827895

Peterson, C W ^[1]

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1. Sandia National Lab., Albuquerque, NM (United States)

This article describes the physics of the motion of the parachute and the surrounding air as the parachute emerges from the payload, inflates, and decelerates the payload. Precise calculation of parachute deployment, inflation and payload deceleration requires solution of the nonlinear, time-dependent equations of motion for turbulent, separated airflow around and through the parachute coupled to the equations of motion of the parachute. Because of the difficulty of this problem, parachute designers have for many years relied on empirical methods rather than on analysis. A description is given of the attempts to model the important events numerically so that parachutes can someday be designed on computers instead of by trial-and-error flight tests. 3 refs., 7 figs.

• OSTI ID: 5827895
• Journal Information: Physics Today; (United States), Journal Name: Physics Today; (United States) Vol. 46:8; ISSN PHTOAD; ISSN 0031-9228
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420400* -- Engineering-- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990200 -- Mathematics & Computers
AERODYNAMICS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DESIGN
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DRAG
EQUATIONS
FLUID MECHANICS
MECHANICS
NAVIER-STOKES EQUATIONS
PARACHUTES
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
SIMULATION