Features of parachute systems testing during their creation

Abstract

The article describes a number of stages in the creation of parachute systems for military and special purposes and some features of executing their testing. The necessity of development flight tests and their peak modes are analyzed in details. The feasibility of recovery parachute system creation for saving the weight model during the flight tests connected with checking of parachute systems strength is proved. The procedure of putting the recovery parachute system into the action scheme of the tested parachute system is suggested. The sequence and the stages of three-cascade recovery parachute system operation consisting of the auxiliary parachute, the drogue parachute and the main one are given. The analysis of this system operation considering the phase trajectories of the recovery parachute system and the tested parachute system movement is conducted. Development of possible emergency situations of the tested parachute system including the phase trajectories of motion at all stages is considered. The phase trajectories of motion are given taking into account test envelope with overlapping of the maximum operation conditions and acceleration modes. Development of emergencies is analyzed considering time buffer to put the recovery parachute system into operation. The article considers the example of creating the emergency detection system and its operating procedure when putting the recovery parachute system into action. Positive results from introduction of the recovery parachute system into the flight tests when creating parachute systems for different purposes are predicted. A new strategy of executing flight tests with the introduction of an updated (by the decision of the Chief Designer) test program is proposed. Extension of the test envelope will enable to significantly advance information awareness of the flight experiment, efficiency and quality of its results. Introduction of the emergency detection system will considerably improve reliability of the tested parachute system operation.

Keywords

• flight tests
• recovery parachute system
• phase trajectory of movement
• emergency situation
• test envelope