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How does a landing gear on an aircraft reduce the vibrations transferred to the airplane structure, while landing?

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    $\begingroup$ suspension, just like in your car only more heavy duty. $\endgroup$
    – ratchet freak
    Jun 11, 2015 at 9:45
  • $\begingroup$ make that an answer, @ratchetfreak $\endgroup$
    – FreeMan
    Jun 11, 2015 at 12:19
  • $\begingroup$ The gear extends on what is effectively a large shock absorber which has a piston moving in a cylinder of hydraulic fluid and nitrogen. $\endgroup$
    – Simon
    Jun 11, 2015 at 16:01

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By having a spring element and a damping element - some small planes use use leaf or tubular legs bending to act as springs, other use rubber bungy cords, others use, like bigger aircraft commonly do, a gas strut damped by liquid viscosity. The damping in the puddle jumpers is the scrub of the tyres moving laterally on the runway as the suspension moves up and down. Shimmy damping in the nose gears can be either by elements providing viscous damping or coulomb/friction damping.

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    $\begingroup$ don't forget to add the effect of pneumatic tires. In some aircraft this is the only thing which dampens the shocks during landing and taxiing on rough terrain. $\endgroup$
    – Peter Kämpf
    Jun 14, 2015 at 9:58
  • $\begingroup$ absolutely! Thanks $\endgroup$
    – Thomas McKelvey
    Jun 16, 2015 at 8:38

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