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The Theory and Prevention of Undamped Aeroplane Nosewheel Shimmy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 June 2016

D. Williams*
Affiliation:
Royal Aircraft Establishment
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Extract

The mathematical theory of nosewheel shimmy is given, with particular reference to twin nosewheel assemblies. It is shown that a sovereign remedy for shimmy is to make the castor length greater than what is here called the “ creep distance,” which in practice is found to be approximately equal to the tyre radius. Lateral flexibility of the oleo leg is disadvantageous but elastic constraint at the pivot is a good feature. The one necessitates an increased castor for stability while the other allows a smaller castor. It is also shown how, by the use of a compact linkage mechanism, the effective castor length can be made independent of the wheel-leg offset and can have any desired value. Model experiments that confirm the theoretical conclusions are described.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society. 1956

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References

1. Temple, G. Preliminary Report on the Theory of Shimmy in Aeroplane Nose-wheels and Tail-wheels. Report No. A.D. 3148, July 1940 (so far unpublished).Google Scholar
2. Kantrowitz, A. Stability of Castering Wheels for Aircraft Landing Gears. N.A.C.A. Report 686, 1940.Google Scholar
3. De Carbon, B. Etude Theoretique du Shimmy des Roues D'Avion, O.N.E.R.A. Publication No. 7, 1948.Google Scholar
4. Routh, E. J. Advanced Rigid Dynamics, Macmillan, London, 1905.Google Scholar
5. Uspensky, J. V. Theory of Equations, Appendix III, McGraw-Hill, 1948.Google Scholar