Parachute materials

Conference · Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6045954

Peterson, C W; Johnson, D W

The purpose of this paper is to present guidelines for the use of Kevlar and nylon materials in modern parachute systems. Nylon has been used in parachutes for many years, so this discussion will place emphasis upon Kevlar material properties and their application to parachute design and construction. Kevlar-29 is an aramid fiber manufactured by DuPont and is being used on parachute systems requiring high strength-to-weight ratios or sustained strength at high temperatures. Tests of parachutes using Kevlar webbing, braided cords, ribbons, and thread have demonstrated that these Kevlar materials can be used successfully in ribbon parachutes with no detrimental effects on performance. A few changes must be made in the design of a ribbon parachute to accommodate Kevlar's high modulus. Examples of parachutes that use Kevlar suspension lines, radials, ribbons, reefing lines, bridles, and skirt bands are presented to show that they are much lighter and more resistant to aerodynamic heating than all-nylon parachutes. Nylon continues to be an important material for high-performance parachute systems, however. New nylon weaves have resulted in lighter weight, stronger ribbon materials with excellent sewability characteristics.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6045954
• Report Number(s): SAND-87-1396C; CONF-8706165-4; ON: DE87014845
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360603* -- Materials-- Properties
42 ENGINEERING
420200 -- Engineering-- Facilities
Equipment
& Techniques
AERODYNAMICS
ARAMIDS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DESIGN
FLUID MECHANICS
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICS
NYLON
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PARACHUTES
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
POLYAMIDES
POLYMERS
STANDARDS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
TESTING