EXPLORATORY DEVELOPMENT OF EXPANDABLE TIRE CONCEPT.
Abstract
This report described the exploratory program undertaken to establish the feasibility of the expandable tire concept for application to aircraft. Three different conceptual designs of the reduced size tire were investigated. The most promising of these was evaluated to be Design II, molded with circumferential convolutions located in the sidewall. An experimentally cured 9.50-16 Design II expandable tire was subjected to static and dynamic testing. Load-deflection curves indicated that the expandable tire was approximately 10% more flexible than the standard 9.50-16 tire as measured by static spring rate. The same tire was successfully landed 97 times under conditions specified in MIL-T-5041-D. The space saving objective was attained in the final molded expandable tires which showed a 30% increase in diameter, 24.7 inches while deflated and 32.2 inches when inflated. Results of strain recovery tests indicated the possible need of vacuum to assist the tire to return to its completely deflated size after severe, long time loading. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0477710
Entities
People
- Edward M. Tatarzycki
- James Sidles