Case study on aircraft tyre wear in Y12 aircraft tyres

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe primary objective of this research was to analyse the discrepancies in polymeric properties in Y12 aircraft tyres after 50 landings. Tensile strength and elongation test, abrasion test and hardness tests were carried out for the nose and main gear tyres after the completion of 50 landings. Surface morphologies of the tyre samples were observed using SEM. ISO specifications were followed for each experimental method during testing. There was a reduction in both median tensile strength and elongation at break in aircraft tyres after 50 landings but the reduction rate of both parameters were lower in Tyre 2 (nose wheel tyre) compared with Tyre 1 (left main wheel tyre) and Tyre 3 (right main wheel tyre). The highest percentage of mean volume loss was reported for Tyre 3 (3.88%). In addition, the least percentage of mean volume loss was obtained in Tyre 2 (2.98%). The percentage of hardness reduction was highest in Tyre 2 (6.9%). The surface roughness was induced to the tyre surface after completion of 50 landings.