Effectiveness of Nylon Drag Straps for Braking Monorail Sleds

摘要

Velocity versus coast distance measurements on two monorail rocket sleds were conducted on the Holloman track to obtain numerical information on the braking effectiveness of nylon drag straps. The data were obtained from ribbon frame camera readings and reduced to the form of drag area of the sleds and the drag straps. The straps as described are shown to increase the effective drag area of the monorail sleds used by approximately one square foot and to be an effective means for reducing recovery distance in the speed range below approximately 700 ft/sec. (Author)