Three-dimensional temperature distribution of aircraft tyre tread at touchdown

PurposeThe aircraft's tyres are forced to spin up at touchdown. A considerable amount of frictional energy will be converted into heat, raising the tread temperature and leading to thermal wear. This study aims to develop a model to analyse the tread heat and discuss the effectiveness of two wear reduction methods. Design/methodology/approachThe tread temperature is calculated using Laplace's Equation. The efficiency of pre-rotation and soft landing in reducing tyre heat is studied using a developed three-dimensional heatmap method. FindingsThe result indicates that pre-rotation can significantly lower landing gear's heat generation at touchdown. The soft landing, instead, has an insignificant or counterproductive effect. Research limitations/implicationsThe pre-rotation can significantly increase the tyre's lifespan and cut the replacement cost. The emission of tyre particles into the environment can be reduced to protect the planet and human health. Originality/valueFew studies have used a theoretical model to estimate the tread temperature. The existing studies have only dealt with the maximum tread temperature or the tread centreline temperature, which is insufficient to discuss the heat across the entire tread. However, the heatmap method in this paper can do the job.

Automated summary

This study aims to develop a model for analyzing the tread heat of aircraft's tires and evaluating the effectiveness of pre-rotation and soft landing in reducing tire heat. The results show that pre-rotation can significantly lower landing gear's heat generation, while soft landing has little or counterproductive effect. The research has practical implications in extending tire lifespan, reducing replacement cost, and minimizing environmental and health impacts.