Drop Impact Analysis of a Coaxial Drone Landing Gear

Mustafa Kaya

Mustafa Kaya, Melis Yazgan, Uygar Elmalı, Burhan Şahin

Year : 2026
Vol : 5
Issue : 1
Page : 1-13

This study presents a numerical investigation of the drop impact response of the landing gear system of a coaxial drone subjected to a low-altitude free-fall scenario. The primary objective is to evaluate the structural integrity and impact resistance of the landing gear during landing events, providing critical feedback for design enhancement. A detailed geometric model of the drone and its landing gear components was developed using SolidWorks, and meshed with tetrahedral and eight-node solid elements. The dynamic impact event was simulated using explicit finite element solver, modeling a vertical free fall from 50 cm with an initial velocity of approximately 3.13 m/s. Aluminum 7075-T6 was selected as the structural material due to its favorable strength-to-weight characteristics, with plastic behavior modeled using the Johnson–Cook constitutive model. Energy components were monitored to ensure numerical stability throughout the simulation process. The results showed that the maximum equivalent (von Mises) stress, approximately 551 MPa, occurred at the root plate where the landing gear is connected to the main body, exceeding the material’s yield strength by nearly 15% and leading to localized plastic deformation. In contrast, stress levels in other regions, such as the body panels, remained within the elastic range (200–350 MPa). The peak effective plastic strain was limited to 2.1%, predominantly concentrated around the landing gear leg-to-body interface. These findings indicate that the majority of the impact energy was dissipated locally, allowing the overall structure to maintain its integrity. In conclusion, the structural assessment confirmed the integrity of the landing gear under impact loading; however, significant stress concentrations were observed near the connection region. Reinforcing this area and improving local stiffness to achieve more uniform stress distribution are recommended. The outcomes of this study provide useful design insights to enhance the drop impact performance and reliability of coaxial UAV landing gear systems.

Cite this Article As : Yazgan, M., & Elmalı, U., & Şahin, B. & Kaya, M. (2026). Koaksiyel Bir Dronun İniş Takımının Düşme Darbesi Analizi. Aerospace Research Letters (ASREL), 5(1), 1-13.

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Drop Impact Analysis of a Coaxial Drone Landing Gear, Research Article,
2026, Vol. 5 (1)

Received : 16.06.2025, Accepted : 29.10.2025 , Published Online : 26.06.2026