Braking Performance of Aircraft Tires

This paper brings under one cover the subject of aircraft braking performance and a variety of related phenomena that lead to aircraft hydroplaning, overruns, and toss of directional control. Complex processes involving tire deformation, tire slipping, and fluid pressures in the tire runway contact area develop the friction forces for retarding the aircraft; this paper describes the physics of these processes. The paper reviews the past and present research efforts and concludes that the most effective way to combat the hazards associated with aircraft landings and takeoffs on contaminated runways is by measuring and displaying in realtime the braking performance parameters in the aircraft cockpit.

Author: Satish K. Agrawal, Ph.D.