Determination of Required Torque to Spin Aircraft Wheel at Approach Using ANSYS CFX

Abstract

Many patents have suggested that spinning the aircraft wheel before touchdown would lessen tyre wear as indicated by landing smoke and rubber deposites on the runway caused by skidding wheel at the point of impact. In this paper, the required torque to spin the aircraft wheel at approach speed has been calculated using ANSYS Workbench CFX, which is used to determine the wheel aerodynamic forces developed by simulation of fluid flows in a virtual environment. The wheel has been tested against different wind speeds, and the aerodynamic forces for the spinning wheel are presented, which include; translational and rotational drags, lift created by vortex, and shaft rolling resistance.