Experimental design of a folded-structure energy-absorption system

This paper describes the design and analysis of an energy-absorption-system container made of chevron-pattern folded paper for the purpose of encasing supplies to be dropped from moving aircraft without using a parachute. A mathematical model of the energy absorption system is developed. The constitutive properties of the system are ascertained experimentally, and the system is tested by dropping containers with different types of cargo and from the different altitudes and aircraft speeds without a parachute. Test results in a laboratory and actual drop tests from moving aircraft demonstrate that this energy-absorption system manufactured using the paper-folding machine, built at the Rutgers University, absorb the impact energy of the drop and protect the cargo from the collision forces that are encountered when the dropped container impacts the ground and tumbles. It is shown that the design can successfully protect items with different fragilities inside containers dropped from different altitudes up to 30 m with aircraft speeds up to 70 KIAS.