Trends in landing gear material

SAE 100 Future look: Messier-Dowty is actively pursuing new opportunities to optimize landing gear technology, notably through the application of new materials.

This strategy not only includes working to improve performance over existing materials, such as ultra-high-tensile strength (UHTS) steels, but also expanding the use of titanium for major structural components and introducing composite technologies for certain landing gear components.

Traditionally, Messier-Dowty has used UHTS steels as well as aluminum alloys to manufacture landing gear. Low-alloy steels such as 300M are cost-effective and offer improved static and fatigue strengths, but they are susceptible to corrosion and therefore require the application of protective coatings. At the strength levels used, UHTS steels are also susceptible to stress corrosion cracking.