An aircraft landing gear shock absorber assembly having: an outer cylinder having a bore which extends into the outer cylinder, the bore defining an opening in the outer cylinder; a sliding tube having a first end region slidably coupled within the bore and a second end region which projects out of opening; a ground fitting distinct from the sliding tube; and a mechanical fixing arranged to mechanically couple the ground fitting to the second end region of the sliding tube, wherein the sliding tube comprises a tubular body portion formed from a ceramic coated fibre composite tube.

In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a particle damper for damping a component when the particle damper is attached to the component. The particle damper comprises a plurality of pockets configured to hold a plurality of particles, and the particle damper also comprises an attachment fitting for coupling the particle damper to the component.

A composite material comprising an elastomer having ceramic platelets dispersed therein, and applications thereof including an armour system. The ceramic platelets each have a first plate surface and a second plate surface, the first and second plate surfaces being separated by a height H. The ceramic platelets each having a maximum diameter D measured in the first and second plate surfaces. The ceramic platelets have a mean height H.sub.m and a mean maximum diameter D.sub.m. The mean height H.sub.m is 0.1 to 1 μm and the ratio D.sub.m:Hm is 20 or more.

A bumper cap for a damper, the damper including an outer tube with a tube end. A rod extending through the tube end. The damper including a damping fluid, such as a hydraulic oil, that is movable within the damper in response to movement of the rod to provide a damping effect. The bumper cap has a cup shaped body having a side wall and a base, the side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface having a dimension that is sized to be press fit over the outer tube. The base of the bumper cap has a through hole in the base, the through hole configured to have the rod pass therethrough. The base has at least one fluid passage extending away from the through hole that is in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir in the side wall.

A bumper cap for a damper, the damper including an outer tube with a tube end. A rod extending through the tube end. The damper including a damping fluid, such as a hydraulic oil, that is movable within the damper in response to movement of the rod to provide a damping effect. The bumper cap has a cup shaped body having a side wall and a base, the side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface having a dimension that is sized to be press fit over the outer tube. The base of the bumper cap has a through hole in the base, the through hole configured to have the rod pass therethrough. The base has at least one fluid passage extending away from the through hole that is in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir in the side wall.

A cover covering an object includes an inner surface of the cover facing the object and spaced from the object, and an outer surface of the cover opposite the inner surface. A local energy absorber is operatively attached to the inner surface of the cover. The local energy absorber includes an energy absorbing core layer operatively attached to the inner surface of the cover and a frangible face sheet layer attached to the energy absorbing core layer facing the object. The frangible face sheet layer is to initiate fracture of the frangible face sheet layer during an impact applied to the outer surface defining an impact event having a duration of less than 20 milliseconds.

An aircraft landing gear shock absorber assembly having: an outer cylinder having a bore which extends into the outer cylinder, the bore defining an opening in the outer cylinder; a sliding tube having a first end region slidably coupled within the bore and a second end region which projects out of opening; a ground fitting distinct from the sliding tube; and a mechanical fixing arranged to mechanically couple the ground fitting to the second end region of the sliding tube, wherein the sliding tube comprises a tubular body portion formed from a ceramic coated fibre composite tube.

In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a particle damper for damping a component when the particle damper is attached to the component. The particle damper comprises a plurality of pockets configured to hold a plurality of particles, and the particle damper also comprises an attachment fitting for coupling the particle damper to the component.

The present invention is directed to three dimensional weaves composed of wires or yarns that offer the potential for damping not achievable with solid materials, including high temperature damping. Three damping mechanisms have been identified: (1) Internal material damping, (2) Frictional energy dissipation (Coulomb damping), and (3) inertial damping (tuned mass damping). These three damping mechanisms can be optimized by modifying the wire material chemistries (metals, ceramics, polymers, etc.), wire sizes, wire shapes, wire coatings, wire bonding, and wire architecture (by removing certain wires). These have the effect of modifying the lattice and wire stiffnesses, masses, coefficients of friction, and internal material damping. Different materials can be used at different locations in the woven lattice. These design variables can also be modified to tailor mechanical stiffness and strength of the lattice, in addition to damping.

A cover covering an object includes an inner surface of the cover facing the object and spaced from the object, and an outer surface of the cover opposite the inner surface. A local energy absorber is operatively attached to the inner surface of the cover. The local energy absorber includes an energy absorbing core layer operatively attached to the inner surface of the cover and a frangible face sheet layer attached to the energy absorbing core layer facing the object. The frangible face sheet layer is to initiate fracture of the frangible face sheet layer during an impact applied to the outer surface defining an impact event having a duration of less than 20 milliseconds.