Abstract
Usually during the design of landing gear, simplified Finite Element (FE) models, based on one‐dimensional finite elements (stick model), are used to investigate the in‐service reaction forces involving each subcomponent. After that, the design of such subcomponent is carried out through detailed Global/Local FE analyses where, once at time, each component, modelled with three‐dimensional finite elements, is assembled into a one‐dimensional finite elements based FE model, representing the whole landing gear under the investigated loading conditions. Moreover, the landing gears are usually investigated also under a kinematic point of view, through the multibody (MB) methods, which allow achieving the reaction forces involving each subcomponent in a very short time. However, simplified stick (FE) and MB models introduce several approximations, providing results far from the real behaviour of the landing gear. Therefore, the first goal of this paper consists of assessing the effectiveness of such approaches against a 3D full‐FE model. Three numerical models of the main landing gear of a regional airliner have been developed, according to MB, “stick,” and 3D full‐FE methods, respectively. The former has been developed by means of ADAMS® software, the other two by means of NASTRAN® software. Once this assessment phase has been carried out, also the Global/Local technique has verified with regard to the results achieved by the 3D full‐FE model. Finally, the dynamic behaviour of the landing gear has been investigated both numerically and experimentally. In particular, Magnaghi Aeronautica S.p.A. Company performed the experimental test, consisting of a drop test according to EASA CS 25 regulations. Concerning the 3D full‐FE investigation, the analysis has been simulated by means of Ls‐Dyna® software. A good level of accuracy has been achieved by all the developed numerical methods.
Highlights
During the design of landing gear, simplified Finite Element (FE) models, based on one-dimensional finite elements, are used to investigate the in-service reaction forces involving each subcomponent
Simplified stick (FE) and MB models introduce several approximations, providing results far from the real behaviour of the landing gear. erefore, the first goal of this paper consists of assessing the effectiveness of such approaches against a 3D full-FE model. ree numerical models of the main landing gear of a regional airliner have been developed, according to MB, “stick,” and 3D full-FE methods, respectively. e former has been developed by means of ADAMS software, the other two by means of
Since the attention is paid on the calculation of the reaction forces, it must be noticed that, in this model, contrary to the one addressed to the dynamic analysis, tyres have not been modelled (Figure 7)
Summary
The three numerical models, based on the stick, MB, and 3D full-FE approaches, are presented. Is phase is often followed by a Global/Local analysis in which the subcomponents of greatest interest, previously modelled with one-dimensional finite elements, are alternately modelled by means of three-dimensional finite elements and replaced to the ones one-dimensionally modelled (Figure 4). In order to assess the reliability of the stick and MB modelling techniques, a full-FE model, characterized by three-dimensional finite elements, has been developed. Since the attention is paid on the calculation of the reaction forces, it must be noticed that, in this model, contrary to the one addressed to the dynamic analysis, tyres have not been modelled (Figure 7)
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