Adaptive landing gear: Optimum control strategy and potential for improvement

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Mikułowski, Grzegorz | Jankowski, Łukasz

Affiliations: Smart-Tech Centre, Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Swietokrzyska 21, 00-049 Warszawa, Poland

Note: [] Corresponding author. Tel.: +48 22 8261281 ext. 241; Fax: +48 22 8287476; E-mail: lukasz.jankowski@ippt.gov.pl

Abstract: An adaptive landing gear is a landing gear (LG) capable of active adaptation to particular landing conditions by means of controlled hydraulic force. The objective of the adaptive control is to mitigate the peak force transferred to the aircraft structure during touch-down, and thus to limit the structural fatigue factor. This paper investigates the ultimate limits for improvement due to various strategies of active control. Five strategies are proposed and investigated numerically using a~validated model of a real, passive landing gear as a reference. Potential for improvement is estimated statistically in terms of the mean and median (significant) peak strut forces as well as in terms of the extended safe sinking velocity range. Three control strategies are verified experimentally using a laboratory test stand.

Keywords: Adaptive landing gear, adaptive impact absorption, shock absorber, load mitigation

DOI: 10.3233/SAV-2009-0460

Journal: Shock and Vibration, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 175-194, 2009