Investigation of the Characteristics of 6-foot Drogue-stabilization Ribbon Parachutes at High Altitudes and Low Supersonic SpeedsPerformance data are presented for two types of ribbon parachutes. The parachutes were forcibly deployed from an air-launched test vehicle at altitudes from 55,000 feet to 70,000 feet and at Mach numbers between 0.92 and 1.52. Opening shock, steady-state drag performance, and canopy-porosity effects are evaluated with respect to Mach number and dynamic pressure. The conical canopy design appears to function far better than the flat canopy at supersonic deployment speeds. The relatively high-porosity conical design improves the parachute stability, with the added benefit of a low opening shock. The drag efficiency of the conical canopy is equivalent to that of the flat canopy having 50-percent-lower porosity. Riser elasticity and length also appear to be important parameters affecting the parachute stability. Reducing the weight of the test vehicle by a factor of one-third had a negligible effect on the stability and drag characteristics of the parachute. |
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1000 Snatch force 20 40 Estimated 28 Dacron¹ 30 Nylon approximately Askania ASTIA Doc black powder break cord calculated canopy breathing canopy-riser force Coleman mechanical tensiometer Conical 8 28 Dacron Dacron¹ 30 decelerates decrease deployed device diameter drag force Oscillatory-load drag-coefficient variation drag-producing drogue parachute dynamic pressure elasticity explosive bolts Figure 3(c Flat 30 flat canopies flat-canopy data flat-ribbon canopy flow coefficients gores high-porosity increasing inflated drag coefficient Inflated drag force instrument capsule instrumented test vehicle launch aircraft launch Flat 23 launch rail lb/sq ft load-supporting mortar firing mortar installation movie cameras opening shock opening-shock drag coefficient oscillating Oscillograph overinflation packed canopy parachute test vehicle Project Mercury capsule radial ribbons release ribbon canopies ribbon parachutes sabot shaped conical canopy shown in figure shroud lines stagnation pressures subsonic sled tests supersonic supersonic speeds test canopy test parachutes trapeze U.S. Air Force variation with Mach velocity WADC