Fluid-structure interaction simulation of a cross parachute: Comparison of numerical predictions with wind tunnel data

The dynamics of parachutes involve a complex interaction between the parachute structure and the surrounding flow field. Accurate representation of parachute systems dynamics requires treatment of the problem as a fluid-structure interaction (FSI). Numerical simulations were performed for a series of cross parachute wind tunnel experiments conducted at Saint Louis University (SLU). These experiments are part of the New World Vistas Precision Aerial Delivery program being runjointly by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the U.S. Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command (SBCCOM). The FSI model consisted of a 3D fluid dynamics (FD) solver using the stabilized space-time finite element method, a structural dynamics (SD) solver, and a method of coupling the FD and SD solvers. Preliminary fully coupled FSI simulations have been performed, and results have been obtained, which predict the coupled FD and SD behavior, to include drag histories, computed flow fields, computed structural behavior, and equilibrium geometries for the structure. Comparisons of these numerical results with experimental wind tunnel data for three cross-parachute models at three different wind speeds are presented.