Design Optimization of Torque Link of an Aircraft Landing Gear Assembly

Abstract

In the landing gear assembly of an aircraft, the torque links connect the two telescoping cylinders and prevent the relative rotation of the piston to maintain the wheel alignment during taxiing on ground. However, it contributes to the dead weight during flight of the aircraft. Thus, reducing the weight of the torque link will turn down the overall weight of the aircraft. This can improve fuel economy which in turn will benefit the aviation industry remarkably. Topology optimization is a method of simultaneously optimizing the topology and orientation of the boundaries to obtain most efficient design. Topology optimization of torque link is carried out with objective function to minimize the compliance. The torque link is designed in CREO3.0, and optimization is executed in ANSYS 19.2. The weight of torque link is reduced from 6.28 to 5.61 kg, resulting in optimize percent of 12.09. This will result in efficient design with reduced mass, fulfilling all the functional requirements.