effect of wind in parachutes...pls help

[Abhay_K]

Hello,

 

I am making a project on development of parachutes.

I would like to know what happens, to a descending parachute when strong winds act on it .., in detail

the parachute is a primitive one..(like the ones used for airdrop)

can someone please help me in this topic..

 

Thank You in advance..

[Enthalpy]

Hi,

 

the canopy first drifts quickly downwind, it pulls the load to the side, which may oscillate for some time, until both descend vertically with respect to the air, that is, at the same horizontal speed as the wind - provided the wind hasn't changed meanwhile.

 

Was that the sense of your query? Or rather the air flow at the surface and the deformations? Something else?

[Abhay_K]

Thank you, Enthalpy..

 

yes this was my question...

 

so you are saying that when the wind blows, one side of the canopy dips down (so that the load and the canopy are horizontal to each other)..and then the load due to its weight swings back and forth until it reaches the ground..please correct me if I am wrong...

 

1) Does it change its position from the initial axis(the axis with which the parachute would fall if there was no wind)

2) can you also explain me how to change the direction of the parachute.(how pulling of ropes actually move the parachute)

 

thank you very much

[Fuzzwood]

At some point, you and the wind will have the same horizontal velocity, and as such you will be falling straight down again. Even on a wind still day, the air is still moving due to the earth rotating, pulling the air with it. This is nothing different.

[Robittybob1]

At some point, you and the wind will have the same horizontal velocity, and as such you will be falling straight down again. Even on a wind still day, the air is still moving due to the earth rotating, pulling the air with it. This is nothing different.

Just as an aside but it could be important to know for the discussion, I prefer to think of it the other way around, the air moves and pushes the Earth with it. It is hard to visualize but I do believe that the total mass of atmosphere is super rotating the Earth, but only very marginally, not as severe as on Venus or Jupiter.

 

When you make a jump, something I have not done (Yet!) the plane would be moving with respect to the wind, so it really makes no difference to the parachute jump other than the speed that you'll connect to the ground with. In a strong wind you'll hit the ground moving sideways as well as dropping.

So I'd try and land into the wind and deflate the canopy asap.

Edited October 25, 2014 by Robittybob1