Oscillations of a wedge in a free stream with particular reference to parachutes

The phenomenon of coupled breathing and longitudinal oscillations of a wedge-mass system in a free stream is examined. As a first step the unsteady pressure distribution on the surface of the oscillating wedge is calculated. For dynamic equilibrium of the wedge-mass system, the moment about the apex of the wedge must be zero. This condition establishes the amplitude and phase relation between breathing and longitudinal oscillations. As a final step the equation of motion of the store is used to calculate the frequency of the breathing oscillations. This frequency is shown to be dependent on four parameters. These parameters include the Froude number, the rigging line length to wedge breadth ratio and the rigging line stiffness and damping. Current results are compared with Hume and Stevens [1] experimental results.