An Investigation of Aircraft Tire Blowouts

While the results of an exploding (bursting) tire have long been recognized as catastrophic to personnel and surrounding equipment, little work has previously been performed to quantify the tire burst phenomena. Using the Wright Laboratory Landing Gear Development Facility at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, the pressure wave released by a bursting tire was investigated as part of the United States Air Force sponsored Extended Life Tire program. This evaluation included pneumatic blowouts of F- 16 Block 30 (25.0>x8.0-14) and B-52 (56x16) main landing gear tires. The results of this testing are detailed in this paper and include the identification of: shock wave propagation, attenuation, and distribution, the potential effects on personnel, and recommendations for analysis / prediction techniques.