different canopies

[Masterclaude 0]

Dear everyone,
I have to write a physics coursework for my alevel about parachutes. My teacher wants to write about different canopy shapes, how they behave differently and explain the various behaviours, especially the physics to it. So far I have not been able to find any material on it, apart from why a elliptical canopies turn faster. Does anyone know help? Thank you very much,
CC

[cobaltdan 0]

if you redirect your literature search to paragliders you will find
a wealth of pertinent information.
sincerely,
dan
atair

[riggerrob 643]

For a quick over view, go to the Australian Parachute Federation's website and down load their 14->16 page pamphlet on high performance canopies.
For the sort of exhaustive mathematical analysis that your professor wants, try to read John Sobieski's lengthy paper on ram-air canopies. Hint, John works at Parachutes Astralia.
A few years back, Bryan Burke published a medium length paper about how ram-air canopy design affects flying characteristics.
Also review aeronautical engineering textbooks on the subject of wing planform. The aerodynamics of parachutes and Cessnas are similar, parachutes just operate at lower wing loadings.