Accession Number:

AD0478533

Title:

AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SUPERSONIC GUIDE SURFACE AND THE SPIKED RIBBON PARACHUTES.

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. 15 Apr 63-15 Apr 65,

Corporate Author:

MINNESOTA UNIV MINNEAPOLIS DEPT OF AERONAUTICS AND ENGINEERING MECHANICS

Personal Author(s):

• Heinrich,Helmut G.

Report Date:

1965-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

71.0

Abstract:

The location of shock waves, the pressure distribution and the mass flow, which are significant for the functioning of a parachute in supersonic flow, are discussed and some advantageous conditions are postulated. Wind tunnel studies are described in which the validity of the assumptions has been checked by means of models of a modified guide surface canopy combined with a shock producing cone. A configuration was found according to which 4 inch textile models function satisfactorily up to Mach numbers of 4.5. The results of further supersonic wind tunnel tests are shown in which a 4 ft supersonic guide surface parachute, built in accordance with the established aerodynamic parameters, functioned satisfactorily. This parachute collapsed due to structural weakness at a Mach number of 2.8 after being exposed to supersonic flow for approximately 90 minutes. The concept of the wake producing cone in conjunction with ribbon parachute canopies was also tried, but no satisfactory configuration was found. Author

Descriptors:

• *PARACHUTES
• *RIBBON PARACHUTES
• SUPERSONIC FLOW
• WIND TUNNEL MODELS
• SHOCK WAVES
• PERFORMANCE(ENGINEERING)
• AIRCRAFT CANOPIES
• PARACHUTE FABRICS
• FLOW VISUALIZATION
• MATHEMATICAL MODELS
• SCHLIEREN PHOTOGRAPHY
• CONICAL BODIES
• SPIKES
• WAKE
• SUPERSONIC CHARACTERISTICS

Subject Categories:

• Fluid Mechanics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE