Effect of Fillet Radius of UAV Main Landing Gear on Static Stress and Fatigue Life using Finite Element Method

Abstract

Abstract The landing gear is one crucial component in the UAV aircraft structure because it serves as the main supporting component of aircraft load when landing and take-off. This study aims to determine the effect of the fillet radius on static stress and fatigue life of the main landing gear for UAV aircraft. Static stress and fatigue life analysis using the finite element method with Ansys Workbench software. The fillet radius is varied 120, 130, 140, and 150 mm. Predictions for fatigue life use the Gerber mean stress theory with a full-reserved type of loading. Landing gear material uses Aluminium alloy 6061. The static stress analysis shows that the higher the fillet radius, the higher the von Mises stress of the main landing gear frame. The fatigue life analysis shows that the higher the fillet radius, the lower the fatigue life of the main landing gear frame. The main landing gear frame achieves the highest fatigue life of up to 3.90 x 107 cycles at a fillet radius of 120 mm.