Low Drag, Low Cost Suspension Line Technology for Parachutes

There exists an opportunity to significantly reduce the drag produced by parachute suspension lines; a drag which can account for as much as 20-40% of the system’s total drag. We will continue to explore methods for such drag reduction which are both relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and for which little or no special handling characteristics or unusual or custom terminations are required. Our approaches do not alter the essentially round cross section of the finished line. We are producing drag reductions as high as 55% through our Phase I, two-pronged approach: First the reduction in line diameter through the use of high modulus fiber in a construction matrix including strong consolidation of unidirectional core fibers into a small diameter, relatively very round, smooth-finished line; and second, several non-strength affecting alterations of the line’s outer covering in ways which acoustically attenuate the vortex induced vibration (VIV) due to Von Karmann vortex shedding behind the aerodynamically bluff body, “infinite” length of small diameter round line.