I had this idea some time ago for reinforcing plastic parachutes but never got around to it. A few weeks ago I rigged up a new parachute to use (not real new, printed on it is Cox and a date of 2012). I noticed that the thin shroud lines were very weak so I replaced with some nylon thread from Hobby Lobby. The parachute had paper reinforcing disks so I left it that way. The first time I used the parachute 2 of the shroud lines tore out through the paper disks. I've heard of people using fiber reinforced disks but I had an idea to use strips of duck tape for reinforcing so I used that to repair the parachute.
I had the idea to form a V with the tape which connects the shroud line to more of the plastic. The tape is cut so the thin strip is cut parallel to the long direction of the tape so it contains the reinforcing fibers. I cut a 3" long strip off of the roll, stuck it on the side of a slick surface cardboard milk carton, and cut it into 5mm wide strips with a sharp hobby knife. I like to do these little experiments to improve parts of my rocketry so next will be to see how this parachute performs when launched.
In the first photo you can see the failure. In the second photo you can see the thin strip of duck tape on top of the parachute and folded under to form a V.
I had the idea to form a V with the tape which connects the shroud line to more of the plastic. The tape is cut so the thin strip is cut parallel to the long direction of the tape so it contains the reinforcing fibers. I cut a 3" long strip off of the roll, stuck it on the side of a slick surface cardboard milk carton, and cut it into 5mm wide strips with a sharp hobby knife. I like to do these little experiments to improve parts of my rocketry so next will be to see how this parachute performs when launched.
In the first photo you can see the failure. In the second photo you can see the thin strip of duck tape on top of the parachute and folded under to form a V.