Proceedings of the World Congress on Engineering 2013 Vol III,

WCE 2013, July 3 - 5, 2013, London, U.K.

Fluid-Structure Interaction Simulation of

Parachute in Low Speed Airdrop
Gao Xing-long, Zhang Qing-bin, Tang Qian-gang, YANG Tao

 technology and modern computation mechanics, the

Abstract—Parachute is a kind of high performance numerical simulation techniques have been widely used in
decelerators with sophisticated dynamic behaviors, especially parachute research field. Russia introduced this technology
for the inflation process, which is a typical fluid-structure into the parachute area as early as 1970's, and have already
interaction (FSI) problem. This article proposes a numerical
study on the inflation of ringslot parachute in low speed
formed a comparatively perfect mathematical models for the
airdrop. Combing with the CFD/CSD and Arbitrary whole working process of parachute by using the
Lagrangian Euler (ALE) coupling techniques, the FSI discontinuous vortex method, large particle method and et al,
numerical model of ringslot parachute was built; utilizing the especially in airdrop and lifesaving field. Professor T.E.
computational platform of nonlinear finite element code Tezduyar[2] and his team for advanced flow simulation and
LS-DYNA, the simulation of FSI results of parachute during modeling (T*AFSM) have deeply investigated on the FSI
inflation process was addressed. The visualization of parachute
deformation, canopy projected area and inflation forces are
problem of several kinds of parachutes like Cross
obtained. The FSI mechanism of parachute inflation was parachute[3] and ring-sail parachute basing on DSD/SST
analysis. The results validated the validity and veracity of ALE (Deformable-Spatial-Domain/Stabilized Space-Time) finite
coupling method for the simulation of slots-parachute inflation. element technique with 3D computations[4], their work have
successfully addressed the 3D computational challenges of
parachutes and parachute clusters with the Space-Time FSI
Index Terms— ringslot parachute, fluid-structure technique[5, 6]. Taylor, Tutt, and Lingard et al of Irvin
interaction, Arbitrary Lagrangian Euler, parachute inflation
Aerospace Inc. (Irvin) have also make great efforts on the
parachute FSI problems in recent years, typically they found
I. INTRODUCTION a new explicit method to model and analysis the FSI
characteristics of parachute by using the LS-DYNA software
T HE airdrop process of life parachute can be divided
into follow steps: deployment, inflation, terminal descent
and landing, among of which the inflation step is most
[7, 8], which has the ability to simulate the elaborate
connections between a porous structure media and associated
flow field. French ministry of defence procurement agency,
complicated. The inflation process is a typical FSI problem, it DGA[9] (Délégation Générale pour l' Armement) has
involves with the interaction between the elastic deformation introduced the Arbitrary Euler-Lagrange (ALE) finite
of flexible fabric and the aerodynamic forces. Because of the element technique into the investigation of parachute FSI
porosity and large deformation characteristic of canopy problems, and has a long expertise of FEM explicit analysis
fabric, the distribution of aerodynamic pressure act on the (Finite Element Model formulations adapted to non-linear,
canopy is relative complicated, which make the flow field dynamic cases) that developed a FSI capability in the early
show extreme irregularity. It's difficult to exactly predict the 2000's. As the development of parachute industry, a highly
dynamic behaviors of canopy and surround fluid by utilizing efficient and accurate numerical simulation technique can
the theoretical methods and traditional experiences.. significantly reduce the risk and cost of the test, and be an
In recent years, with the rapid development of computing indispensable promote of the development of parachute
industry.
Manuscript received April 6, 2013; revised April 6, 2013. (Write the date
The ALE coupling method has a wide application in
on which you submitted your paper for review.) This work was supported in nonlinear, FSI, and large transformation problems[16, 17].
part by the Chinese National Nature Science Foundation under Grant Utilizing a novel ALE finite element method within
11274345 (sponsor and financial support acknowledgment goes here).
GAO Xinglong is with the National University of Defense Technology,
LS-DYNA software, this paper provides physical insight into
Hunan, Changsha410073 China (corresponding author to provide phone: ringslot parachute operation in the low speed airdrop test.
86-731-84576436; fax: 86-731-84576436; e-mail: Basing on the fluid mechanics mesh and structure mechanics
[email protected]). mesh, the complexity of FSI modeling created by the narrow
ZHANG Qingbin is with the National University of Defense Technology,
Hunan, Changsha410073 China (corresponding author to provide phone: slots and geometric porosity of canopy were successfully
86-731-84576436; fax: 86-731-84576436; e-mail: addressed. The simulation results were obtained on condition
[email protected]). that the velocity of inlet fluid was constant. This work could
TANG Qiangang is with the National University of Defense Technology,
Hunan, Changsha410073 China (corresponding author to provide phone: be used for the simulation and technical support of
86-731-84576436; fax: 86-731-84576436; e-mail: [email protected]). parachute’s airdrop test at low speed.
YANG Tao is with the National University of Defense Technology,
Hunan, Changsha410073 China (corresponding author to provide phone:
86-731-84576436; fax: 86-731-84576436; e-mail: [email protected]).

ISBN: 978-988-19252-9-9 WCE 2013

ISSN: 2078-0958 (Print); ISSN: 2078-0966 (Online)
Proceedings of the World Congress on Engineering 2013 Vol III,
WCE 2013, July 3 - 5, 2013, London, U.K.

II. BACKGROUND circles represent the fluid element nodes, the hollow circles
Comparing with the solid parachute canopy, most of the represent the structural membrane element nodes of which
parachutes used in airdrop and some other aeronautic locations can be described in the local reference of ALE fluid
engineering projects have slots. The canopy can provide elements, and thus the structural nodes can be tracked and
aerodynamics lift, drag and stability needed to meet coupling force can also be applied.
performance requirements, thus the parachutes with some
slots and gaps on the fabric surface can significantly reduce
the overload and achieve more stable aerodynamics
performance.
Simulation of the inflation process of slots parachute is
complicated even at low speed, the interaction between
porous body of canopy structure and surrounding fluid exists
in the whole inflation process, the shape of canopy gradually
deform from slightness body to no-streamline body under the
opening load. Respectively, the significant deformation can
forwardly change the distribution of aerodynamic pressure
on canopy, and vice versa.
Fig. 1. Eulerian-Lagrangian penalty coupling of a membrane in ALE
FSI problems can be generally solved by both analytic and fluid(Reproduced from Reference [9])
non-analytic methods, but these two methods show extreme Taking the fluid as porous media, in explicit dynamic
limitation in solving quiet complicated problem like 
integral method, when time step t  t n , d n represents the
parachute inflation, the numerical methods are more
penalty depth of structural nodes, it is incrementally updated
applicable and easier to execute in computer. Basing on the
in follow equation.
coupling methods between fluid and structure, the numerical   
methods can be sorted into two approaches: Partitioned and d n 1  d n  v n 1/ 2  t (1)

Monolithic approach. vr is the reference velocity of master and slave nodes, the

Considering the high efficiency of computation and slave node velocity is vs , whereas the master node velocity
prevalence of parallel computing, the FSI numerical can be viewed as a fluid particle within a fluid element, with
simulation techniques basing on monolithic approach have the mass and velocity interpolated from the fluid element
already attracted many researchers’ attention. Combing with nodes using finite element shape functions, thus
the parallel computing ability and ALE method within the   
vrn 1/ 2  vsn 1/ 2  v fn 1/ 2 (2)
LS-DYNA nonlinear dynamic code, the work of the FSI
simulation of ringslot parachute have been presented in this Penalty occurs if
 
paper. ns  d n  0 (3)
The coupling forces should be applied in master and slave
III. SIMULATION METHODOLOGY nodes in opposite direction to satisfy the force equilibrium on
the coupling interface, whereas for master nodes, the
A. Eulerian-Lagrangian penalty method coupling force can be distributed basing on shape
The opening velocity of parachute’s airdrop process is functions N i at each node i , thus
commonly relative low, thus the fluid field can be considered
Ffi  N i  F (4)
as incompressible flow. Besides on, the canopy structure is
flexible and permeable with typical nonlinear dynamic The action-reaction principle is satisfied on the coupling
characteristic. interface.
Considering the complicated structure dynamics (SD) and When the finite element models of parachute inflation are
fluid dynamics (FD) characteristics of the parachute, some building, we can choose the Eulerian-Lagrangian penalty
hypotheses should be proposed beforehand as follows: coupling algorithm within LS-DYNA software for solving
1) Packed geometry of canopy before inflation is axially such aerodynamics FSI problems. The structure elements
symmetric, and no pre-stress exists; should select the Lagrangian algorithm while the fluid
2) Opening process is infinite mass without considering elements should select the Eulerian algorithm, and the
the gravity; penalty method can assure the transmission of FSI
3) Air fluid is considered as incompressible flow at low information on the coupling interface.
velocity;
4) Fluid field is considered as qusai-state with a B. Parachute models
constant velocity at the inlet boundary; Ringslot canopy parachute was firstly designed to satisfy
In FSI problems, the computation of coupling interface is a the system requirements of a prototype parachute cluster to
key technique for the conversation of energy must be decelerate the F-111 aircraft Crew Escape Module. The
ensured. Generally, it’s impossible to implement the total resulting ringslot gore and canopy are shown in figure 2. It’s
matching between structural and fluid mesh. The a 16.9 degree conical canopy with 513 mm wide rings spaced
transformations of the structural and fluid nodes information 275mm apart from the vent area. The constructed diameter of
have been implemented by the Eulerian-Lagrangian penalty this 20-gores canopy is 6430mm, there are 20 suspension
coupling algorithm. As depicting in figure 1, where the solid lines in all, and the length of each one is 7423mm. The ropes

ISBN: 978-988-19252-9-9 WCE 2013

ISSN: 2078-0958 (Print); ISSN: 2078-0966 (Online)
Proceedings of the World Congress on Engineering 2013 Vol III,
WCE 2013, July 3 - 5, 2013, London, U.K.

are Kevlar tape.

(a)Bottom view (b)Side view

Figure 4. Fluid domain mesh models
Figure 2. Constructed surface of ringslot canopy
D. Material models
The folded model of parachute canopy will significantly The material model of canopy is fabric, it’s commonly
affect the results of numerical simulation[18], so it’s used for simulation the mechanical behaviors of airbag model
important to accurately replicate the geometry shape of in LS-DYNA. This fabric material is orthotropic composite
constructed parachute. Considering the complexity of with permeable, large translation and nonlinear mechanic
modeling the packed flexible fabric, we ignore the longitude characteristics, considering the structural reliability of slots
direction pack in this paper, thus the parachute was only on aperture under loading, both the edges of slots and
packed in latitude direction, which means only the numerical aperture were reinforced by high strength materials. Table 1
model of inflation process after the deployment step was shows the material parameters of fabric and suspension lines,
built. The location of slots need to be considered when the the fabric was meshed by 4 nodes membrane elements and
initial packed model of parachute was built, this problem can the line was meshed by Cable elements within
be solved utilizing mesh technique in ANSYS software. The ANSYS/LS-DYNA.
packed and inflated models of ringslot parachute can be seen TABLE I
MATERIAL PROPERTIES
from figure 3.

name MEMBRANES Cables

Suspen Seam& Apertur
sion Edge e
Thicknes
Canopy lines reinfor reinfor
s(area)
cement cement
s s
4  10-6
Density 0.0001m 0.001m 0.001m
m2
Young’ 5840kg 6800 6800kg
5880kg/m3
(a)Packed model (b)Inflated model modulus /m3 kg/m3 /m3
Figure3. 3D simulation models of ringslot parachute 4.309 5.309
Poisson’s 4.309  108 1.2  1
 108p  108p
ration pa 012pa
a a
C. Fluid models
To avoid the influence of boundary reflection waves, the IV. RESULTS AND FINDINGS
geometries of fluid model should be properly set
The simulation of inflation was executed in 8 cores
corresponding with the profile of parachute. The fluid model
processors and solved by the version of mpp971_R_5.1.1
size is 20m×20m×30m in this paper. Figure 4 shows the
ls-dyna, as well as the mpich parallel computing software.
diversified mesh of model sections, the fluid mesh near the
There are 228,800 elements in all and the total time cost is
center that parachute located were refined, whereas the ones
36h. The inflow speed of fluid is 40m/s. Both the 3D dynamic
near the wall were coarse, this meshing way can significantly
behaviors of FSI and the opening process at low speed of
reduce the parallel computing cost of parachute FSI, and
airdrop were analyzed in this paper.
avoid that the deformed structure disturb the fluid field, these
can improve the computing accuracy.

ISBN: 978-988-19252-9-9 WCE 2013

ISSN: 2078-0958 (Print); ISSN: 2078-0966 (Online)
Proceedings of the World Congress on Engineering 2013 Vol III,
WCE 2013, July 3 - 5, 2013, London, U.K.

infinite mass inflation from Desabrais paper[19], it’s clear

A. Canopy shape deformation
that the simulation results in this paper have captured the
Figure 5 illustrates the spatial deformation of canopy shape general inflation characteristics well, and there has an elastic
during inflation process. phenomenon when the air flow afflux at about 0.6s, after the
maximum canopy’s diameter reached, the inflation become
stable without obvious re-inflate phenomenon, this is because
the geometrical vent characteristics of slots.

t=0s

t=0.2s

Figure 6. Diameter and force time history data for ringslot parachute inflation

From figure 5 and figure 6, the inflation time is about

0.75s. This can also be estimated utilizing the experience
equations. Book[20] present the experience equation for
computing the inflation time of parachute with slots.
t=0.4s
0.65g D0
tm  (7)
vL
0.65g = K s correspond with the inflation distance
represented by nominal diameter, vL is the velocity of fluid
when parachute was draw straight and D0 is the nominal
diameter of canopy, referencing the K s test data for
t=1.4s
Figure 5. 3D shape deforming (side, top, and bottom) of canopy mesh model slots-parachute of infinite mass in book[20], the experience
during inflation result of inflation time is 0.73s.
As the simulation results show that the numerical
computing technique this paper employed can simulate and
From the canopy deformation results of inflation we can capture the dynamic characteristics of ringslot parachute
see that the numerical computing technique this paper during inflation, including the large impact of opening force,
employed can simulate and capture the inflation and the over inflation of canopy, especially that the
characteristics of slots-parachute, including the large impact computing of the slots converged.
of opening force, and the over inflation of canopy, especially
the computing convergence of the slots were reached, this
avoided the divergent and unstable results. It can be seen
from the inflation results that the slots-parachute could still
keep the reliable opening ability with a relative high total
porosity, the reason is that the special flow characteristics of
slots and fabric pores, which behaves like the function of
sharp edge orifice with the significant jet effect, and thus the
large circulate drag occur.
B. Inflated performance
During the inflation process, the canopy deformed with
efficiency permeability, figure 5 displays time history data
for inflation of the parachute, the opening force and diameter Figure 7. Contour of the fluid flew outlet the slots and porosity canopy
data of projected area of canopy are presented. Comparing
with the results of force-time and diameter-time data for

ISBN: 978-988-19252-9-9 WCE 2013

ISSN: 2078-0958 (Print); ISSN: 2078-0966 (Online)
Proceedings of the World Congress on Engineering 2013 Vol III,
WCE 2013, July 3 - 5, 2013, London, U.K.

C. Fluid structure interaction results computing of coupling technique within LS-DYNA in

Figure 8 illustrates the FSI computing results of parachute parachute FSI problems. The numerical simulation
inflation. The streamlines vector of fluid show that the methodology and technique this paper employed can be
turbulence of surrounding fluid gradually increased as the generalized in engineering application and used for
growing of parachute drag area. The canopy expanded and investigating the dynamics problems for some other types of
transformed into a resistance fluid under the action of flow parachutes, like recovery parachute and air bomb parachute
that around the skirt. Because the resistance of fabric, the et al. The simulation technique of finite mass inflation and
velocity of flow across the apex and ring slots is apparently higher efficiency of parallel computing for parachute FSI
higher than the other regions on canopy, these make the need to be investigated in future work.
pressure on upper surface become low, while the pressure at
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ISBN: 978-988-19252-9-9 WCE 2013

ISSN: 2078-0958 (Print); ISSN: 2078-0966 (Online)
Proceedings of the World Congress on Engineering 2013 Vol III,
WCE 2013, July 3 - 5, 2013, London, U.K.

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ISBN: 978-988-19252-9-9 WCE 2013

ISSN: 2078-0958 (Print); ISSN: 2078-0966 (Online)