The goal of this project was to determine the vortex shedding characteristics of rigid parachute canopies and disks, then compare these results to those of flexible canopies. This was accomplished by designing and fabricating test pieces and fixtures, then performing experiments in a wind tunnel. The experiment consisted of measuring drag and velocity in the near wake and performing an FFT analysis. The rigid canopy and disk had similar wake characteristics, but they did not compare with the flexible canopy.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Sacco, Keith
• Kruszeski, Christopher John

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 05D417M

Advisor

• Johari, Hamid

Year

• 2005

Sponsor

• Natick Soldier Center

Date created

• 2005-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright