A revised numerical model for parachute inflation based on ALE method

The parachute inflation process is a typical time-varying, non-linear and fluid-structure coupling problem, especially inairdrop condition. For its complexity, numerical model of the inflation process is a big challenge, and most of the modelsestablished before still have room for improvement. There were two common problems that the first one was ignoranceof inertia force of canopy and line, and the second was that took stretch speed as the initial airdrop speed in modelling.Thus, a modified finite element model for canopy inflation process based on ALE (Arbitrary Lagrange Euler) method wasestablished that the inertia force of canopy and line was taken into consideration and the initial airdrop speed wasestimated and adjusted. The opening load in finite mass situation during deployment-inflation process of C-9 typeparachute was calculated. The result was compared to experimental data and calculated data of unmodified models. Itwas indicated that the opening load and peak time of modified model was the closest to experiment and the snatch loadwas also calculated and confirmed, so that the correctness and rationality of the model was verified. Then the factorinfluence of inertia force and initial airdrop speed was analysed, which provided a reference for parachute numericalmodelling.

A revised numerical model for parachute inflation based on ALE method

The parachute inflation process is a typical time-varying, non-linear and fluid-structure coupling problem, especially inairdrop condition. For its complexity, numerical model of the inflation process is a big challenge, and most of the modelsestablished before still have room for improvement. There were two common problems that the first one was ignoranceof inertia force of canopy and line, and the second was that took stretch speed as the initial airdrop speed in modelling.Thus, a modified finite element model for canopy inflation process based on ALE (Arbitrary Lagrange Euler) method wasestablished that the inertia force of canopy and line was taken into consideration and the initial airdrop speed wasestimated and adjusted. The opening load in finite mass situation during deployment-inflation process of C-9 typeparachute was calculated. The result was compared to experimental data and calculated data of unmodified models. Itwas indicated that the opening load and peak time of modified model was the closest to experiment and the snatch loadwas also calculated and confirmed, so that the correctness and rationality of the model was verified. Then the factorinfluence of inertia force and initial airdrop speed was analysed, which provided a reference for parachute numericalmodelling.

Numerical Simulation of Twin-Parachute Inflation Process for Aircraft Ejection Escape

In order to study the safe distance between twin-parachute during their inflation process for fighter ejection escape, the fighter was equipped with two canopies and two seats, two types of parachute were used to numerically simulate their inflation process, respectively. One of them is C-9, the other a slot-parachute (S-P). Their physical models were built, then the meshes inside and around both parachutes were generated for fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulation. The penalty function and the arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) method were employed in the FSI simulation. To validate the numerical model for FSI simulation, at first the single parachute of the twin-parachute was used for the FSI simulation, the predicted inflation times for both types of parachute were compared with the experimental data. The computed results are in good agreement with experimental data. As a result, the inflation times were predicted with twin-parachute for both kinds of parachute. On the basis of the locations of ejected seats after the separation of seat and pilot, the initial locations and orientations of twin-parachute were also obtained. The numerical simulations for both kinds of parachute were performed by the FSI method, respectively. Our results illustrate that when the interval time for two seats ejected is greater than 0.25s, two pilots attached the twin-parachute are safe, and the twin-parachute would not interfere each other. Moreover, our results also indicate that the FSI simulation for twin-parachute inflation process is feasible for engineering applications and have a great potential for wide use.

Study on Transient Dynamics and Aerodynamic Characteristics of a New Type of High-Damping Four-Winged Rotating Parachute Inflation Process

To decrease the opening shock as well as improve the resistance coefficient and stability of the parachute of aviation weapon under subsonic conditions, a new kind of high-damping four-winged rotating (HFWR) parachute is investigated in this paper. The transient dynamic behavior and aerodynamic characteristics of the parachute during the inflation process are studied. Considering the permeability, the 3D folded finite element (FE) model of the HFWR parachute is established based on the direct folding modeling technique, and the inflation process of the parachute under subsonic flow is simulated using the multimaterial arbitrary Lagrange–Euler (ALE) method. A series of wind tunnel tests are conducted to verify the numerical results. Besides, the opening performances of the HFWR parachute and the round parachute, which includes the inflation process, the dynamic response of the swing angle, and the opening shock load varying with time, are compared under the same conditions. The results show that the opening performance of the HFWR parachute is superior to the round parachute under specific military background. The fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulation results show good consistency with the wind tunnel tests, which indicates that the numerical modeling can effectively simulate and predict the opening performance and aerodynamic characteristics of the rotating parachute. The modeling method in this paper can help shorten the development cycle, improve the cost effectiveness, and optimize the design of the parachute.