Noise and vibration phenomena in aircraft wheel and brake systems.

Abstract

There is a wide variety of noise and vibration phenomena in aircraft brake systems for which must be accounted in the design process of such systems. These phenomena include such modes as whirl and squeal, the latter of which can be quite different from its counterpart in automotive systems and has likewise received much less attention in the literature than its automotive counterpart. Consequently, an overview of such phenomena with representative results from simulations and experiments will be presented to highlight the differences. Complicating matters is that brake-induced vibration often involves strong coupling with the aircraft structure, thereby necessitating a system level understanding beyond the brake itself. This aspect poses a particular problem to a brake component supplier in how to ensure favorable noise and vibration behavior for the full aircraft system, particularly early in the development cycle. To accomplish this goal, Goodrich has developed a successful methodology combining simulation and testing to assess the noise and vibration behavior at an earlier stage. The methodology implements simulations to guide appropriate brake component tests that are more tractable for the brake supplier yet sufficiently mimic the full system environment. With the combined simulation and testing, a reduction in actual testing can be achieved while improving component noise and vibration performance.