Composite landing gear components made with RTM

Composite materials are used in aircraft structures because of weight and cost benefits. These components are mostly shell structures. For helicopters, weight savings are even more important than for fixed wing aircraft. Hence, components other than shell structures, which can be made of composite materials, are being considered. A project is described, focused on the development of the fabrication technology for selected composite landing gear components. The project is being carried out by a Dutch consortium: landing gear supplier SPa&vs, aerospace research centre NLR, software company MSC. Software and preform supplier Eurocarbon. The Composites Group of Twente University is involved with software developments. The components considered are a pair of torque links and a trailing arm, baselined on the NH-90 helicopter. The torque links were fabricated and tested successfully. A trailing arm has been fabricated with the over-braiding technique, and will be tested later in 2004.