Fluid–Structure Interaction Simulation of a Supersonic Reefed Parachute Cluster During the Inflation Process

Abstract

To investigate the multi-stage inflation mechanism of a supersonic reefed parachute cluster, an ALE-based fluid–structure interaction method is applied. The canopy permeability is modeled using the Ergun equation, and the virtual structure contact method is employed to handle contact issues induced by large canopy deformation. A flow-domain time-step updating strategy is employed to perform finite-mass inflation simulation. The accuracy of the adopted method is validated by wind-tunnel test data. Full-stage simulations from supersonic to subsonic regimes are conducted to investigate the canopy deformation, flow-field structure, system attitude, and aerodynamic response of the parachute cluster–payload system. The results demonstrate that the parachute cluster maintains stable overall attitudes throughout multi-stage inflation, with axial translation dominating and lateral interference remaining negligible. A steady bow shock with strong inter-canopy shock interaction is formed in the first supersonic stage, followed by prominent vortex shedding in the second transonic stage, and full wake isolation with optimal deceleration efficiency achieved in the third subsonic stage. Quantitative comparison with a single-parachute system reveals stage-dependent interference: higher peak load and stronger oscillations in the supersonic stage, and approximately twice the load in the transonic/subsonic stages. The findings can provide critical theoretical guidance and technical support for engineering implementation of supersonic reefed parachute cluster deceleration systems.