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Parachute Design - Seams, Lines, Joints:

• Primary Joints (Both Main/Drogue):
•  (A) Parachute Skirt to Suspension Lines
•  (B) Suspension Lines to Risers
•  (C) Risers to Metallic Hardware (swivels)
• Joint Design and Testing:
• Straightforward Insertions joints 
• Plan to continue testing to build basis
• Vectran 600 (Suspension Lines: A & B) and Technora 2500lbs (Risers: B & C)
• Use Testing to solidify margins on current design [5” insertion w/ ½” back stitching on each end]

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• Hems: 0.79in seam tolerance using zigzag stitch
• Gore on Gore seams: using a turned lapped seam, stitch with straight stitch
• Standard for parachutes, hide possibly fraying edges inside the seam itself
• Lines: sewed on after gore seams are completed, sew onto gore seams with zigzag stitch, locked at both ends
• Testing: 
• Tensile Testing Seam Construction
• Machine: Instron 5567 Mechanical Testing Machine (50 kN limit)

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Lines Diagram:

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Lines:

Attachments:

• Soft Links

• Purpose: Attaches deployment to risers and risers to suspension lines
• Capacity: 4,500 to 18,000 lbs (variable based on number of loops, loops determined by connection criteria )
• Material: Technora 2,500lbs

• Swivels

• Purpose: Allows lines to move without being tangled

• Capacity: 1,800lb

• Material: 316 Stainless Steel

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Tensile Testing Preparation:

• Tensile Testing to establish joint knockdown
• Machine: Instron 5567 Mechanical Testing Machine (50 kN limit)
• Grips: Pin Fixture 
• Insertion Joint: 
• 5” sewed joint w/ 0.5” back stitch on both ends
• Samples:
• 10x Samples of both Technora and Vectran
• 15” gauge length between joints
• Standardized stitching and materials for each type of line (Consistent Lots of thread and line material)

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Results