Research and Analysis of Coulomb Friction in Landing Gear Shimmy

Abstract

Aircraft are subject to small disturbances during taxiing, many of which are accidental and difficult to explain. Although nonlinear factors are considered in traditional analysis, Coulomb friction is generally ignored, and the interaction and common effects of nonlinear factors are mostly not discussed. In this paper, the dynamic model of shimmy is established, and the influence of Coulomb friction on shimmy is studied by using bifurcation theory and the structural mechanics analysis method. The results show that the system with Coulomb friction has subcritical Hopf bifurcation and that the system with square damping has supercritical Hopf bifurcation. Although the two do not change the stability of the system, their cooperation can improve the stability of the system. The Coulomb friction torque of the system has a complex piecewise functional relationship with the stability distance, rake angle, and acceleration. Some combinations will lead to very low Coulomb friction and deteriorate the anti-interference ability of the landing gear. This paper provides theoretical basis and support for the rational design of structural parameter collocation, enhancing the antidisturbance ability of the system during constant-speed or variable-speed taxis and explaining the shimmy phenomenon in the process of variable-speed taxis of some aircraft.