INVESTIGATION OF PREDICTION METHODS FOR THE LOADS AND STRESSES OF APOLLO TYPE SPACECRAFT PARACHUTES VOLUME Ⅰ – LOADS

摘要

The results of a one-year study on the opening loads of Apollo type spacecraft parachutes are presented. A review is made of the flight test data that were obtained in the Apollo parachute development program to assess existing techniques and.to upgrade the previously used load prediction methods. The results of this portion of the study are applied to an Apollo design case. Two new opening load methods are presented. One of these methods, referred to as the Mass/Time Method, is developed to a useful level for single Apollo type main parachutes; and a modified ver-sion of this method is applied to several Apollo cluster cases. An analysis of the longitudinal oscillations that occur in the Apollo parachutes indicates that they are caused by strong inter¬actions with the wake of the forebody.