3409. Landing Gear Mass Prediction. A Combined Analytic and Parametric Approach
$20.00
SAWE Members get a $200 store credit each year.*
*Store credit coupon available at checkout, click the button in your shopping cart to apply the coupon.
Not applicable to SAWE textbooks and current conference technical papers.
Paper
Abstract
Current parametric methods for landing gear mass prediction are based on relationships derived from existing aircraft and landing gear mass data. They can provide good results using minimal input and effort, although the resulting mass predictions are inherently linked to the design assumptions of legacy aircraft. Also, the methods cannot be used to perform trade studies that would be useful at early stages of the aircraft design process (e.g., landing gear mass vs. shock-absorber stroke, or vs. material choice). Analytic methods attempt to approximate the landing gear design process by calculating loads to size initial structural concepts. They require more detailed data than parametric methods and simplified structures are assumed that can exclude some important details. Also, it is difficult to predict robust values of overall gear weight from an idealized structural weight synthesized by this process. However, analytic methods can be used to perform early trade studies. This paper reviews the progress towards a combined analytic and parametric method that employs the benefits of both approaches. The analysis process starts from a set of data that would typically be available at early stages of the design process and uses an iterative sequence that aims to provide reliable predictions of landing gear mass. The method attempts to simulate the landing gear design process in enough detail to provide an early concept phase mass prediction.
