This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
The Effect of Runway Surface and Braking on Shuttle Orbiter Main Gear Tire Wear
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
In 1988, a 1067 m long touchdown zone on each end of the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) was modified from its original heavy-broom finish with transverse grooves configuration to a longitudinal corduroy surface texture with no transverse grooves. The intent of this modification was to reduce the spin-up wear on the Orbiter main gear tires and provide for somewhat higher crosswind capabilities at that site. The modification worked well, so it was proposed that the remainder of the runway be modified as well to permit even higher crosswind landing capability. Tests were conducted at the NASA Langley Aircraft Landing Dynamics Facility (ALDF) to evaluate the merit of such a modification. This paper discusses the results of these tests, and explains why the proposed modification did not provide the expected improvement and thus was not implemented. Also, in an ongoing program to evaluate the origin of various tire wear phenomenon, a series of tests was conducted to evaluate the effect of braking on tire wear. These tests were inspired by Orbiter landings at the SLF which were relatively benign in terms of crosswind yet had visible tire wear. Finally, a section on a modified tire is presented which discusses the suitability of that tire in terms of its wear performance under rollout and braking operations.
Recommended Content
Technical Paper | Dynamometer Simulation of Aircraft Tire Wear Due to Braking |
Technical Paper | Cornering and Wear Behavior of the Space Shuttle Orbiter Main Gear Tire |
Technical Paper | Spin-Up Studies of the Space Shuttle Orbiter Main Gear Tire |
Authors
Citation
Daugherty, R. and Stubbs, S., "The Effect of Runway Surface and Braking on Shuttle Orbiter Main Gear Tire Wear," SAE Technical Paper 922038, 1992, https://doi.org/10.4271/922038.Also In
References
- Daugherty, Robert H. Yager, Thomas J. Stubbs, Sandy M. Shuttle Landing Runway Modification to Improve Tire Spin-Up Wear Performance SAE Paper No. 881402 1988 SAE Aerospace Technology Conference and Exposition Anaheim, California
- Daugherty, Robert H. Stubbs, Sandy M. Cornering and Wear Behavior of the Space Shuttle Orbiter Main Gear Tire SAE Paper No. 871867 1987 SAE Aerospace Technology Conference and Exposition Long Beach, California
- Davis, Pamela A. Stubbs, Sandy M. Tanner, John A. Aircraft Landing Dynamic Facility, A Unique Facility with New Capabilities SAE Paper No. 851938 1985 SAE Aerospace Technology Conference and Exposition Long Beach, California
- Leland, Trafford J. W. Yager, Thomas J. Joyner, Upshur T. Effect of Pavement Texture on Wet-Runway Braking Performance NASA TN D-4323 1968
- Howell, William E. Tanner, Sharon E. Vogler, William A. Static Footprint Local Forces, Areas, and Aspect Ratios for Three Type VII Aircraft Tires NASA TP-2983 February 1991