Abstract
This study focuses on the formation mechanism of para-foil canopy. Three types of model wing, which represent each cell of para-foil canopy (a rigid wing with air intake, an inflatable wing and a cassette model) were prepared to explore the effects of air intake on inflatable wing formation in wind tunnel experiments. The flow fields both outside and inside of the wings were investigated, together with the process that the flexible wing inflates to form a wing. It was found that the robust nature of canopy is derived from the concaving deformation of the leading edge at small angles of attack, and the enhanced outward suction pressure acting on the leading edge, which are caused by the flexibility of the wing as well as the pressure of air intake in sacrifice of increased drag coefficient.
