Methods for Analyzing Nose Gear During Landing Using Structural Finite Element Analysis

The objective of this paper is to provide a modeling and analysis guide that can be used in determining the stress and displacement behaviors of an aircraft nose gear during landing. The paper outlines the modeling and analysis of the nose gear of an aircraft using finite element analysis. The nose gear was first modeled using computer-aided design software and then imported into finite element software. The external forces were determined analytically and the interactions between components were carefully modeled using contact analysis. The tire was modeled using the eye-bar theory. The results obtained in this work are consistent with the Federal Aviation Administration's recommendations for physical testing.