Graphite Composite Landing Gear Components. Volume II. Technical Appendices

The objectives of this effort were to determine the feasibility of, and the weight and cost savings from the manufacture of a direct replacement landing gear for current Air Force aircraft which is composed of component hardware that is fabricated from graphite epoxy material to the maximum extent possible. Prior to the start of this effort, direct replacement torque arm and side brace components for the A37B aircraft landing gear had been qualified for flight use which were fabricated from epoxy materials to the maximum extent possible. Both of these components were lighter than the existing metallic components. It was projected tha the fabrication cost of the side-brace in production quantities would be less than the existing metallic component. Under a separate In-House Work Unit, the graphite epoxy side brace successfully passed extensive laboratory environmental and in-service flight testing. The major task under this effort was the design, fabrication and qualification of an A37B aircraft outer cylinder/trunnion fabricated from graphite epoxy material to the maximum extent possible. See also Volume 1, AD-B022 950.