Heat generation in aircraft tires

Abstract

A method has been developed for calculating the internal temperature distribution in an aircraft tire under free-rolling braked and yawed conditions. The method uses an approximate stress analysis of each point in the tire as it rolls through the contact patch, and from this stress excursion the mechanical work done on each volume element can be converted into a heat release through a knowledge of material hysteresis characteristics. The tire cross-section is considered as an axisymmetric body with internal heat generation, and the heat diffusion equation is solved numerically with appropriate boundary conditions concerning wheel and runway surface. Comparison of data obtained from thermocouple embedded tires shows good agreement.