In an aircraft, hydraulics control the movement of an aircraft, left and right, upwards and downwards. The pilots will lose control of the airplane to turn right or left, climb in case there is a total hydraulic failure
Hydraulic system works on the basic principle that force applied at one point is transmitted to another point using an incompressible fluid. The fluid is almost always an oil of some sort. The force is almost always multiplied in the process. A simple hydraulic system consists of two pistons and an oil-filled cylinder connecting them.
When one piston is pressed the liquid goes and exerts pressure on the other piston causing it to move.
Since oil is incompressible, the efficiency is very good- almost all of the applied force appears at the second piston. The great thing about hydraulic systems is that the pipe connecting the two cylinders can be of any length and shape, allowing the liquid to snake through all sorts of things separating the two pistons. The pipe can also fork so that one master cylinder can drive more than one slave cylinder if desired.
In an aircraft, hydraulics control the movement of an aircraft, left and right, upwards and downwards. The pilots will lose control of the airplane to turn right or left, climb in case there is a total hydraulic failure. The only way to fly a plane with full hydraulic failure is by increasing and decreasing the power of engines but only if they are mounted on the wings. But very few pilots in the world have the nerve and finesse to execute this.
Usually in smaller planes, there are manual flight control alternatives but in case of the bigger ones, it is almost always entirely hydraulics-based. But bigger aircraft typically have three or more hydraulic systems and it is in extremely rare situations that all of them fail.
4 Reasons Behind Hydraulic System Failure
Hydraulic Fluid Contamination
A leading cause of many hydraulic pump failures is hydraulic fluid contamination. It is very important to ensure that both components and fluids are clean prior to use. Fluid contamination forces hydraulic pumps and valves to wear prematurely resulting in hydraulic system failures and damaged system components. Read our article, Three Ways to Improve the Life-Span of Hydraulic Machinery, to learn how to prevent this common hydraulic mishap.
Heat-Aging
Over-heating a hydraulic hose can cause thermal expansion which can in turn cause premature aging of the elastomers and plastics within the material that comprises the internal hose tube. This condition leads to decreased elongation of the molecular structure of the material and contributes to increased brittleness eventually leading to premature hose failure.
General Abrasion
While many hose manufacturers produce anti-wear covers that include enhanced abrasion resistance characteristics, the hose assemblies must be installed in a manner that minimizes contact with other components in the system. They must also be clamped appropriately to ensure that they do not rub against other hoses or mechanical components during use. Improper installation of hose assemblies leading to excess abrasion will cause premature hose failure.
Incorrect Insertion Depth
When a hose assembly is not properly assembled, it can create a very dangerous situation. In fact, the most likely cause of hose assembly failure is a result of improper assembly rather than from manufactured defects. One of the most common assembly mistakes is caused by fittings that are not inserted to the proper insertion depth within the hose. When the crimp fitting is not inserted completely, the surface area where the crimp ferrule is clamped to the hose is reduced thus compromising the connection and leading to a condition where the fitting blows off the hose under pressure exposing the machine operator to a dangerous condition that could lead to serious injury.
