Thin-Skin Landing Gear Support Structure for Drag and Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft landing gear is heavy and aerodynamically resistant, contributing to reduced fuel efficiency and increased noise due to aerodynamic buffeting, and existing solutions do not effectively address these issues.
Innovation Solution
The development of a thin-skin support member with a semi-circular edge and elongated edge defining a hollow cavity, configured to retain a strut assembly and utilizing additive manufacturing techniques such as wire arc additive manufacturing, which reduces weight and enhances aerodynamic properties by distributing forces over a greater surface area, thereby reducing drag and noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If conventional landing gear structures are used, then structural strength is maintained, but weight increases and aerodynamic drag increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies thin-skin construction to landing gear support members, using thin-walled hollow structures that maintain structural strength while significantly reducing weight. The thin-skin support members are designed with optimized wall thicknesses and geometric configurations that provide sufficient load-bearing capacity without the excess weight of conventional thick-walled structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes composite material structures in the thin-skin support members, combining different materials or material configurations to achieve high strength-to-weight ratios. The support members may incorporate various metal alloys or composite constructions that provide enhanced strength characteristics while maintaining the lightweight thin-skin design.
2Loss of energy
If conventional landing gear structures are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but aerodynamic drag increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thin-skin support members incorporate curved and streamlined geometries that reduce aerodynamic drag. The semi-circular edges and elongated edges of the hollow cavities are designed to smooth airflow transitions, minimizing turbulence and drag while maintaining structural integrity through the curved geometry's inherent strength.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional landing gear structures are used, then load-bearing capacity is sufficient, but noise signature increases
Solution Approach 1:
The streamlined curved geometry of the thin-skin support members reduces aerodynamic buffeting and turbulence, thereby minimizing noise generation during flight operations. The smooth transitions and rounded edges help airflow remain attached and reduce vortex formation, lowering the noise signature while maintaining load-bearing capacity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The thin-skin support member reduces the overall mass of the landing gear, decreases aerodynamic drag, and minimizes noise production while maintaining high strength characteristics, achieving a lightweight and efficient landing gear assembly.
Implementation Method 1
The thin-skin support member may be made using wire arc additive manufacturing
Implementation Method 2
electron beam additive manufacturing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A thin-skin support member is provided. The thin-skin support member may include a semi-circular edge (308) and a flat edge that define a hollow cavity (200). A cylindrical cavity (300) may be adjacent the hollow cavity and at least partially defined by the semi-circular edge. The cylindrical cavity may be configured to retain a strut assembly. A mounting interface (112) may be coupled to the semi-circular edge and the flat edge. A torsion interface may be disposed adjacent the cylindrical cavity and configured to receive a torsion link (116, 118). The thin-skin support member may be made using additive manufacturing and thus may have a grain structure grown in the direction of material being added.