Design and Experimental Investigation of the Rigidity of a New Generation,Non Pneumatic Tire for Aircrafts

16th International Congress on Engineering, Architecture and Design, İstanbul, Türkiye, 20 - 22 Aralık 2025, ss.880-887, (Tam Metin Bildiri)

Conventional pneumatic tires (PT) involve several operational limitations including

maintenance requirements, bursting, and sudden pressure loss due to their dependence on

internal air pressure. To overcome these limitations, a new-generation non-pneumatic tire

(NPT) for use in aircraft nose landing gear was designed, manufactured and its mechanical

performance was evaluated experimentally in this study. In addition to, a conventional PT was

subjected to test as well. An NPT concept was investigated adopting a biomimetic design

approach. The spoke structure of the tire was parametrically designed based on Fibonacci

curves, which provide geometric continuity and efficient load transfer characteristics. The

geometry was specifically designed to control deformation behavior under vertical loading

conditions and enhance structural rigidity. The designed NPT was manufactured using a 3D

printer from TPU material due to its advanced elastic properties, energy damping capacity, and

suitability for additive manufacturing. Prior to experimental testing, a reference aircraft was

selected and vertical loads acting on the nose landing gear during taxiing and landing were

calculated. These calculated loads were applied in a controlled manner during the vertical

stiffness test, and loaddisplacement data were obtained. For comparative evaluation, the same

experimental procedure and test conditions were applied to a conventional PT commonly used

in aviation, which has same external geometrical dimensions and material properties. As a result

of the experiments, the NPT exhibited the vertical displacement of 24.5 mm under a 2500 kg

load, while the PT exhibited the displacement of 32.4 mm under the same load. This outcome

indicates improved load-carrying capability, enhanced structural stability, and potential

operational reliability advantages. Overall, the findings confirm that NPTs represent a feasible

alternative for future aircraft landing gear.