A study of the mechanical properties of parachute canopy fabrics

Abstract

Reviewing past work into parachute fabrics, an account is given of the history and the properties of these fabrics which are a major area of investigation and development. ptimization of these fabrics remains one of the most important areas in aviation research. The short comings of the available data are shown to be that although, a large number of measurable variables have been demonstrated to be associated with the suitability of fabrics to be used as parachute fabrics, there has been little systematic study of these variables, and virtually no attempt to explain them in terms of the fundamental physical characteristics of the yarns. In this study, fabrics of three sets of weaves, plain, rip-stop and twill, of varying area density for the use of parachutes were produced and investigated. Nylon and cotton were used to produce these parachute fabrics, besides, five different types of parachutes fabrics (extracted from existing parachutes, new and used) were examined to determine their state and to find out what changes have occurred in them, particularly on their mechanical properties, on use. In addition to the standard tensile and bursting strength trials, a number of other fabric properties were also investigated. The parachute fabrics were tested with a view to find out their ballistic behavior for which the yarn pull out force test was adapted to determining their dimensional stability. All three fabrics were treated with plasma, and their different properties were examined. Air permeability was determined at three different pressure levels, which are all higher than those newline