Study on the Dissolution Mechanism of Aviation Hydraulic Oil–Nitrogen Gas Based on Molecular Dynamics

The shock absorbers in the landing gear absorb and dissipate a significant amount of kinetic energy generated from impacts during the landing and taxiing phases to ensure the stability and safety of the aircraft. The nitrogen–oil binary system is a commonly used energy absorption medium in these shock absorbers. Nevertheless, the interplay of interfacial mass transfer dynamics, microscopic dissolution behavior, and pressure drop in the aviation hydraulic oil–N2 system under landing conditions necessitates further elucidation. Thus, we investigated the interfacial mass transfer characteristics of the oil–gas mixing process using molecular dynamics (MD) for analyzing the dissolution mechanism of N2 in the aviation hydraulic oil system. The results show that as system pressure and temperature increase, the degree of oil–gas mixing intensifies. Under conditions of 373 K, 35 MPa and 433 K, 20 MPa, the diffusion coefficient, interfacial thickness, and system energy reach their maximum values. An increase in system pressure facilitates the occurrence of oil–gas mixing until the interface disappears at the minimum miscibility pressure (MMP), with the obtained MMP value being 107 MPa. Finally, the solubility of N2 molecules in aviation hydraulic oil under different conditions was statistically analyzed, which is identified as the root cause of the pressure drop in the shock absorber’s gas chamber. This study innovatively applies molecular dynamics simulations to unveil, for the first time, the dissolution mechanism of N2 in aviation hydraulic oil at the molecular scale, overcoming experimental limitations in observing extreme pressure–temperature conditions. This research elucidates the behavior of aviation hydraulic oil and N2 under different thermodynamic conditions, making it easier to capture the patterns of phenomena that are difficult to observe in extreme environments. The research findings not only enhance the microscopic understanding of oil–gas mixing within the shock absorber but also provide valuable guidance for optimizing energy dissipation efficiency, improving damping characteristics, and enhancing safety in aircraft landing gear systems.