Experimental investigation of the flow structures in the wake of a cross parachute canopy

In the present study, an experimental study was conducted to characterize the flow structures in the turbulent wake of a cross parachute canopy by utilizing Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry (Stereo-PIV) technique. Both flow through gap and flow over arm of the cross parachutes were carefully measured and analyzed. The obtained results showed that the turbulent wake of the flow through gap was larger than that of flow over arm. Besides, the distributions of velocity, vorticity, and Reynolds stress of flow through gap differed significantly with those of flow over arm. In addition, the effect of the arm ratio of the cross canopy on the transverse profiles of velocity, vorticity, and Reynolds stress was also discussed.