The Selected Problems of Studies of Aircraft Landing Gear

• Published in: Research works of Air Force Institute of Technology 2016-12, Vol.39 (1), p.91-102
• Main Authors: Roskowicz, Marek, Leszczynski, Piotr
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aircraft; landing gear; landing gear load; pneumatic tyre characteristics; Pneumatics; Strain; strength tests; Stress analysis
• ISSN: 1234-3544; 2083-8573
• DOI: 10.1515/afit-2016-0020

The article portrays the results of experimental studies conducted in the field of static strength test of main landing gear of lightweight aircraft as well as in the area of establishing the pneumatic tyre characteristics of main landing gear. The studies were carried out in compliance with methodologies of performing studies for the purposes of solutions implemented in aviation structures. It was stated that static strength tests of landing gear should not be done with the use of shock absorbers, due to the fact that this element, distinguished by high viscoelastic properties, by being statically loaded, is subject to displacements that do not occur during normal operation of the aircraft. Excessive displacements of shock absorber result in the load distribution in other landing gear elements being incompatible with project assumptions, which in turn leads to this strength test being interrupted, bearing in mind significantly lower loads than anticipated. It was also concluded that in order to determine pneumatic tyre characteristics it is not necessary to carry out tests on the whole landing gear strut, because the results obtained in the compression test of the wheel itself with pneumatic tyre are identical as the results acquired during tests conducted in accordance with methodology. Test preparation process with the use of the wheel itself and its realization is less time-consuming, less expensive and does not entail the necessity to build complex test stands.