Laboratory Simulation Tests and Infrared Thermography of A-10 Main Landing Gear Tires
Abstract
Infrared thermography was used to measure tire surface temperatures during aircraft taxi tests and laboratory tests. Since the A-10 operates with a toe-out alignment of the main gear, particular emphasis was placed on the determination of the effect of small slip angles on tire surface temperature distribution. Preliminary laboratory tests were conducted to obtain small slip angle carpet plots while simultaneously measuring the tire surface temperature. The results of these tests showed that operating a tire with small positive slip angles resulted in consistently higher outboard (versus inboard) sidewall temperatures. The magnitude of the difference between sidewall surface temperatures (outboard minus inboard) appeared to be a linear function of small slip angles. The tires were then rolled to failure with a fixed one degree slip angle to determine the surface temperature distribution at or near tire failure. A laboratory test plan that simulated A-10 operations at Myrtle Beach AFB was written as a series of dynamics statements that were used to program a computer controlled tire test dynamometer. These tests dynamically simulated all loads, velocities, turns, stops and distances rolled by an A-10 main landing gear tire from the time the aircraft leaves the chocks until it is airborne and from the time it lands until it returns to the chocks. The simulation tests resulted in laboratory tire failures that were in agreement with field failure data for the smalll sample of tires that were tested.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA120272
Entities
People
- Robert K. Kiminecz