Dunlop Aircraft Tyres Receives Funding for Modelling Project

A research project utilising modelling technology to reduce the cost and time involved in aircraft tyre development has landed Dunlop Aircraft Tyres £120,000 in funding from the Midlands Aerospace Alliance (MAA). This project, co-funded by the aircraft tyre manufacturer, is being conducted together with the University of Birmingham’s School of Mechanical Engineering.

In addition to identifying ways in which modelling can improve the tyre design process and thus bring products to market quicker, the project gives airframe, landing gear and wheel and brake manufacturers will have the opportunity to save costs by utilising output from the supply chain partnership project to improve aircraft and landing gear system modelling and simulation.

“We have an aggressive new product programme as part of our overall expansion strategy,” said Dunlop Aircraft Tyres chairman Ian Edmondson. “This funding, and the support of the University of Birmingham and Airbus, gives us the opportunity to research new ways to use the very latest modelling technology to make advancements in aircraft tyre design and to remain at the leading edge of the industry.”

The project is part of the MAA’s Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme, funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Advantage West Midlands. It is headed up by Dunlop Aircraft Tyres’ head of research, Dr Wei Ding. Before joining the tyre manufacturer Wei worked for Airbus, where he was project manager for tyre research and team leader for tyre, wheel and brake modelling and simulation.