text: The most critical loads on the landing gear 
  occur at high gross weight and high rate of 
  descent at 
  landing 
  gear has requirements of static strength and 
  fatigue strength similar 
  to any other com- 
  ponent, overstress must be avoided to prevent 
  failure and derive the anticipated service life 
  from rhe components. 
  
  touchdown. Since the 
  
  The most significant function of the landing 
  gear is to absorb the vertical energy of the air- 
  craft at touchdown. An aircraft at a given 
  weight and rate of descent at touchdown has 
  a certain kinetic energy which must be dis- 
  sipated in the shock absorbers of the landing 
  gear. 
  the energy were not absorbed at 
  touchdown, the aircraft would bounce along 
  faulty shock 
  similar to an automobile with 
  absorbers. As the strut deflects on touchdown,  This simplified equation points out two im- 
  portant facts. The effective stroke of the strut 
  should be large to minimize the loads since a 
  greater distance of travel reduces the force 
  necessary to do the work of arresting the ver- 
  the aircraft. This should 
  tical descent of 
  
  If 
  
  343 