A novel approach has been developed for real-time characterization of a par
achute during inflation. Two techniques were applied to measure static and
dynamic stresses in a parachute canopy fabric material and suspension lines
: the modal power distribution (MPD) technique and the fiber Bragg grating
(FBG) technique. Several tests were conducted under various loading conditi
ons, using a bi-axial tensile tester. The MPD technique was used to measure
the transverse stresses in the parachute canopy fabric material and was ap
plied using two experimental set-ups: one using a CCD camera and the other
using a photo-detector. The FBG technique was used to measure the axial str
esses in the parachute canopy fabric material. The tests were performed usi
ng the spectrum analyzer set-up with the bi-axial machine. Finally, a drop
test was performed on the parachute canopy fabric material using the MPD te
chnique with the photo-detector set-up.