What material is aircraft landing gear made of?
Landing gear cylinders and main axles are commonly made from high-strength low alloy steels, but the cylinders are also made from high-strength aluminium alloys. A number of ancillary components such as torque links, rod-ends, levers and brackets are also made from these materials. The landing gear design does use large amounts of titanium: The A350-900 main landing gear . HVOF coatings.The landing gear of the A320 is typically constructed from high-strength steel and titanium alloys to provide durability and reduce weight.
What is the best material for landing gears?
Precipitation hardening (PH) stainless steels are the best materials to meet the requirements of aircraft landing gears. Stainless steel metals are often found in: Landing gear: Stainless steel can easily absorb repeated landing impacts without fracturing or being damaged.
Is titanium used in landing gear?
The high strength and low density of titanium (~40% lower than that of steel) provide many opportunities for weight savings. The best example of this is its use on the landing gear of the Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft and the Airbus A380. Figure 1 shows the landing gear on the 777 aircraft. Steel is stronger than titanium, with higher tensile yield strength. However, titanium offers higher strength-to-weight ratios. Titanium boasts excellent corrosion resistance, especially in harsh environments.