The impacts of loads and temperatures on aircraft tyres electrical conductivity performance

• Measuring electrical resistance of five aircraft tyres under vertical loads and high and low tyre temperatures. • Analysing the influence of loads and temperatures on aircraft tyre conductivity performance. • Applying vertical loads to inflated aircraft tyre-wheel assemblies using the static testing machine. • Heating aircraft tyres up to 60°C at a temperature controlling cabin of the friction/wear dynamic testing machine • Cooling aircraft tyres down to -35°C at another landing gear temperature controlling system. During flight the static electricity is created by the friction of airframe with environments. Besides, the aircraft tyres undergo heavy loads and super speeds at takeoff, landing, taxiing and braking, and hence are exposed to severe friction with the runway. Subsequently, it creates excessive electricity during this procedure. A stray electrical discharge can fail the electronic components on the airplane and cause disasters. Therefore, the aircraft tyres are made of conductive rubber, and which expel electricity to ground in time. There has been few publication presents the electrical conduction tests of aircraft tyres, and the present research shines a light on this topic. The electrical conductivity tests of five aircraft tyres are carried out at the Aviation Tyres Science Centre. The electrical resistance are measured under vertical loads and high and low tyre temperatures. The loading and temperature effects on electrical resistance are discussed in accordance with the experimental records. More importantly, from the perspectives of tyre design and manufacturing process, the solutions aimed at enhancing the electrical conductivity performance are also proposed in this paper.