PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS

INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 02: Load Analysis of Aircraft Landing Gears

LEARNING
MODULE 02:
Load Analysis of Aircraft
Landing Gears

AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES II

Prepared by:
Engr. Christian Louie
Victorino

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 02: Load Analysis of Aircraft Landing Gears

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Time
Title Page Allotment
(Hours)
Introduction 3 .5
Landing Gear Arrangements 5 .3
Sample Problem 8 .75
Supplemental Readings 8 .5
Activity 9 .75
Assignment 10 .75

TABLE OF REFERENCES
References No.
Peery-Aircraft Structures: Load classification Terminology 1
E.F. Bruhn: Analysis and Design of Flight Vehicle Structures 2
T.H.G. Megson: Aircraft Structures for Engineering Students 3
Anderson: Fundamentals of Aerodynamics 4
R.C. Hibbeler: Mechanics of Materials 8th Edition 5
Pilot Handbook: Aircraft Structures 6
Ferdinand L. Singer: Strength of Materials 7

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 02: Load Analysis of Aircraft Landing Gears

Introduction

Aircraft landing gear supports the entire weight of an aircraft during landing
and ground operations. They are attached to primary structural members of the
aircraft. The type of gear depends on the aircraft design and its intended use. Most
landing gear have wheels to facilitate operation to and from hard surfaces, such as
airport runways. Other gear feature skids for this purpose, such as those found on
helicopters, balloon gondolas, and in the tail area of some tail dragger aircraft.
Aircraft that operate to and from frozen lakes and snowy areas may be equipped
with landing gear that have skis. Aircraft that operate to and from the surface of
water have pontoon-type landing gear.

https://www.flight-mechanic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/13-1.jpg

Landing Gear System is one of the critical systems of an aircraft and is often
configured along with the aircraft structure because of its substantial influence on the
aircraft structural configuration itself.

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 02: Load Analysis of Aircraft Landing Gears

The purpose of the landing gear in an aircraft is to provide a suspension system

during taxi, take-off and landing. It is designed to absorb and dissipate the kinetic
energy of the landing impact, thereby reducing the impact loads transmitted to the
airframe. The landing gear also facilitates braking of the aircraft using a wheel braking
system and provides directional control of the aircraft on the ground using a wheel
steering system. It is often made retractable to minimize the aerodynamic drag on the
aircraft during flight.

A landing gear system comprises of many structural and system components.

The structural components include Main fitting, Shock absorber, Bogie beam, Trailing
arm, Axle, Torque links, Drag/Side braces, Retraction actuator, Down lock
mechanism, Up lock, Wheel, Tire etc. The system components are Brake unit,
Antiskid system, Retraction system components.

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 02: Load Analysis of Aircraft Landing Gears

https://www.flight-mechanic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/13-10.jpg

Landing Gear Arrangements

1. Tail Wheel-Type Landing Gear

Tail wheel-type landing gear is also known as conventional gear because many
early aircraft use this type of arrangement. The main gear is located forward of the
center of gravity, causing the tail to require support from a third wheel assembly.
The resulting angle of the aircraft fuselage, when fitted with conventional gear,
allows the use of a long propeller that compensates for older, underpowered
engine design. The increased clearance of the forward fuselage offered by tail
wheel-type landing gear is also advantageous when operating in and out of non-
paved runways.

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 02: Load Analysis of Aircraft Landing Gears

https://www.flight-mechanic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/13-3.jpg

2. Tandem Landing Gear

Few aircraft are designed with tandem landing gear. As the name implies, this type
of landing gear has the main gear and tail gear aligned on the longitudinal axis of the
aircraft. Sailplanes commonly use tandem gear, although many only have one actual gear
forward on the fuselage with a skid under the tail.

https://www.flight-mechanic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/13-5.jpg

3. Tricycle-Type Landing Gear

The most commonly used landing gear arrangement is the tricycle-type landing
gear. It is comprised of main gear and nose gear.

https://www.flight-mechanic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/13-6.jpg

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 02: Load Analysis of Aircraft Landing Gears

Tricycle-type landing gear is used on large and small aircraft with the following
benefits:

• Allows more forceful application of the brakes without nosing over when
braking, which enables higher landing speeds.
• Provides better visibility from the flight deck, especially during landing and
ground maneuvering.
• Prevents ground-looping of the aircraft. Since the aircraft center of gravity is
forward of the main gear, forces acting on the center of gravity tend to keep
the aircraft moving forward rather than looping, such as with a tail wheel-
type landing gear.

Supplemental Readings:
• Landing Gear Types – Landing Gear Arrangement
https://www.flight-mechanic.com/landing-gear-types-landing-gear-arrangement/

• Aircraft Landing Gear Design & Development

https://www.infosys.com/industries/communication-services/documents/landing-gear-design-
and-development.pdf

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 02: Load Analysis of Aircraft Landing Gears

Sample Problem.

The conventional landing-gear shock absorber contains two telescoping tube,

as shown in the figure (a). As the shock absorber is compressed, oil is forced
through an orifice into an airtight chamber, and the energy from landing impact is
absorbed by oil and air. This shock-absorber mechanism, called an oleo strut,
transmits bending moment through the two telescoped tubes. The tubes, however,
are free to rotate with respect with each other, and additional structural members,
called torque links, are required to resist torsion. The loads on the torque links B of
the landing gear shown in the figure are desired.

Solution:

Considering the lower tube and the lower torque links as a free body, the forces are
shown in the figure (b). Taking the moments about the tube center line,

∑M = 50,000 in.lb – 10 in (R 1) = 0
R1 = 5,000 lb
Now considering one of the torque links as a free body, as shown in the figure (c),
and taking moments about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the torque link,

∑M = 3 in (R 2) + 5,000 lb (9 in) = 0
R2 = 15,000 lb

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 02: Load Analysis of Aircraft Landing Gears

Activity No. 2

A. Identify the following.

1. It is is one of the censorious systems of an aircraft and is often build

along with the aircraft structure because of its considerable influence on
the aircraft structural shape itself.
2. This is a shock-absorber mechanism which transmits bending moment
through the two telescoped tubes.
3. It is an aircraft landing gear structural member which is required to
resists torsion.
4. It is the landing gear structural components which function involves
absorbing and dissipating the kinetic energy associated with the
airplanes mass and vertical velocity.

B. Answer each item as best as you can.

1. What is Aircraft Landing Gears?

2. What are the three types of landing gear wheel arrangement?
3. How does aircraft landing gear work?
4. When should we lower the aircraft landing gear?

Average Outstanding
Poor Total

Answer is
Answer is
Answer is not accurate, and
accurate, but
accurate or has important
Accuracy little accuracy.
missed some
points are
important points.
(1-7pts) mentioned.
(8-14pts)
(15pts)

No spelling,
Grammar, Poor or below Few
punctuation or
average grammatical
writing grammatical
grammar. errors.
mechanics. errors
(1-4pt) (5-9pts)
(10pts)

Total 25pts

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 02: Load Analysis of Aircraft Landing Gears
Assignment No. 2:

Answer the given problem and show your solution.

1. The conventional landing-gear shock absorber contains two telescoping tubes,

as shown in the figure (a). As the shock absorber is compressed, oil is forced
through an orifice into an airtight chamber, and the energy from landing impact
is absorbed by oil and air. This shock-absorber mechanism, called an oleo
strut, transmits bending moment through the two telescoped tubes. The tubes,
however, are free to rotate with respect with each other, and additional
structural members, called torque links, are required to resist torsion. The loads
on the torque links B of the landing gear shown in the figure are desired.

M=?
x=?

25 in
R1 = 2,600 lb
R2 = 10, 400 lb

Considering the lower tube and the lower torque links as a free body, the forces
are shown in the figure (b). Taking reaction force about the tube center line,
Find the moment M about the tube center line.

Now considering one of the torque links as a free body, as shown in the figure
(c), and taking moments about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the torque
link, Find the distance x about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the torque.

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 02: Load Analysis of Aircraft Landing Gears

Summary

This module discusses the different aircraft landing gear structural system. It helps
the student to analyze, understand and calculate the load or force that the aircraft
landing gear being experienced during landing and in take-off. The module discussed
the function of the system and how does the oleo strut and torque link being perform
through mathematical computation.

Honesty Clause
I am expected to display the highest degree of honesty and professionalism in my
class work, requirements and activities and I understand that if plagiarism is found in
my paper, my instructor will follow the procedure on academic dishonesty set forth by
Philippine State College of Aeronautics.

________________________________
Name and Signature

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