NASA’s Langley Research Center has developed a landing gear cavity modification that reduces noise produced during aircraft approach and landing. The modification is an innovative stretchable mesh assembly that deploys and retracts with the landing gear to reduce high-intensity low- to mid-frequency airframe noise. The envisioned low-profile mesh concept enables mitigation of cavity noise without sealing of the cavity or incurring appreciable penalties of increased weight, and conforms easily and smoothly to the interior edges of an aircraft wheel well. The concept is potentially suitable for retrofit of current aircraft and for inclusion into future civil transport fleets, and causes no adverse effects to the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft. The technology has been validated in wind tunnel testing. NASA is seeking partners who are interested in co-development or licensure of the technology for a variety of applications.

A 3D CAD rendering of the stretchable mesh for cavity noise reduction. A prototype has been tested in a wind tunnel environment.

Attached to the interior edges of the wheel well and covering the entire cavity opening, the stretchable mesh promotes growth of three-dimensional flow structures within the free shear layer. The fine flow structures generated by the mesh effectively reduce shear layer roll-up, and eliminate span-wise coherence of the large-scale flow structures immediately downstream of the landing gear cavity leading edge that generate cavity noise. Consequently, the generation of high-amplitude acoustic waves and subsequent cavity resonance is significantly diminished.

The mesh has been tested in a high-fidelity 18% scale model in NASA Langley Research Center’s 14 × 22-foot subsonic wind tunnel. Measurements of acoustic far field noise were collected using a phased microphone array. The stretchable mesh concept can reduce the gear cavity noise by more than one to three decibels from 100-500 Hz, and by about one decibel in the 500-800 Hz range. Sound reduction efficacy of the stretchable mesh construct was compared with rigid mesh, and the stretchable mesh has proven more effective in landing gear cavity noise reduction.

Determination of a final embodiment of the stretchable mesh will require design and optimization of the cavity mesh support and attachment fixtures. Further considerations of cost, manufacturability, and maintainability are forthcoming.

The technology can be used in landing gear cavities, aircraft weapons bays, and automobile sunroofs.

NASA is actively seeking licensees to commercialize this technology. Please contact The Technology Gateway at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to initiate licensing discussions. Follow this link here  for more information.