THE EFFECT OF HIGH FREQUENCY IMPACT LOADS ON AIRPLANE LANDING GEARS

Numerous service reports have demonstrated that airplane landing gears can fail under short duration impact loads even though designed adequately for the large energy absorption associated with high sinking speeds. The typical case is that of a carrier based airplane with a tail gear designed and tested for 21 feet per second striking velocity which fails at 15 feet per second when it simultaneously runs over an arresting cable.

Data from laboratory and service tests are presented in support of a criteria for the design of a tail bumper to withstand cable impact loads.