Implementation of a Flight Dynamic Simulation for Cargo Airdrop with Complex Parachute Deployment Sequences

The paper presents the implementation of a flight dynamical simulation for cargo airdrop and its application. The corresponding software called PARALAB was developed by the DLR Institute of Flight Systems as toolbox and blockset for the MATLAB/Simulink® environment for the purpose of evaluation and assessment of airdrop missions in future military transport aircraft (FMTA) applications. The tool is a result of the further development of the coupled airdrop simulation presented at the AIAA ADS conference in 2011. Compared to the preceding version, the new version has been extended to general multi-body systems and 3-dimensional motion. This extension provides the possibility of a realistic simulation of previ-ously unmodeled elements and features in complex parachute systems. The PARALAB toolbox includes models of several essential elements like ramp, payload, slings & risers, suspension lines & parachutes, but also static line, pendulum, tow plate and others. At present, several types of standard airdrop systems using round parachutes, clusters and multi-stage systems, as well as single-row and double-row airdrop with multiple payloads, can be simulated stand-alone or in connection with the simulation of a military transport aircraft. The paper concludes showing some preliminary validation results from scaled wind tunnel tests.