Effect of fabric construction, seam angle, and impact force on the performance of the parachute canopy

Abstract

This study encompasses the impact of fabric construction, seam angle, and impact force on the behaviour of the parachute canopy. The ripstop and plain-woven fabric stitched at 0° and 45° seam angles have been subjected to the three levels of tensile impact forces derived through a scale-down approach of the C-9 parachute and the behaviour is analysed using a high-speed digital camera. Results indicate that seam angle has a major influence on the performance of the specimen under impact load. The plain-woven samples showed more ability to absorb impact force but higher damage, especially at seam lines of 0° seamed specimen than the ripstop samples. Both the fabric specimens of 0° seam angle induce a form of seam line damage due to the corresponding higher impact force. In contrast, the 45° seam bias angles are quite stable at seam lines and also produce higher work done under varying impact forces.