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Rice University

Fluid-Structure Interaction Modeling of Parachutes with Disreefing and Modified Geometric Porosity and Separation Aerodynamics of a Cover Jettisoned to the Spacecraft Wake

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Fluid--structure interaction (FSI) modeling of spacecraft parachutes involves a number of computational challenges. The canopy complexity created by the hundreds of gaps and slits and design-related modification of that geometric porosity by removal of some of the sails and panels are among the formidable challenges. Disreefing from one stage to another when the parachute is used in multiple stages is another formidable challenge. This thesis addresses the computational challenges involved in disreefing of spacecraft parachutes and fully-open and reefed stages of the parachutes with modified geometric porosity. The special techniques developed to address these challenges are described and the FSI computations are be reported. The thesis also addresses the modeling and computation challenges involved in very early stages, where the sudden separation of a cover jettisoned to the spacecraft wake needs to be modeled. Higher-order temporal representations used in modeling the separation motion are described, and the computed separation and wake-induced forces acting on the cover are reported.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
Masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Engineering
Grantor
Rice University
Year dc:date.issued
2012

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Fritze, Matt
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Tezduyar, Tayfun E.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Akin, John Edward.
  • Meade, Andrew J., Jr.
  • Takizawa, Kenji

Subjects

dc:subject × 12

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.
Language dc:language.iso
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
https://hdl.handle.net/1911/77320
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/77320

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Rice University
Base URL
repository.rice.edu/server/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Fritze, Matt. Fluid-Structure Interaction Modeling of Parachutes with Disreefing and Modified Geometric Porosity and Separation Aerodynamics of a Cover Jettisoned to the Spacecraft Wake. Masters thesis, Rice University, 2012. https://hdl.handle.net/1911/77320