Two-dimensional finite element analysis investigation of the heat partition ratio of a friction brake

Abstract

A 2D coupled temperature-displacement FE model is developed for a pad-disc brake system based on a restricted rotational pad boundary condition. The evolution of pressure, heat flux, and temperature along the contact interface during braking applications is analysed with the FE model. Results indicate that different rotational pad boundary conditions significantly impact the interface pressure distribution, which in turn affects interface temperature and heat flux distributions, and suggest that a particular pad rotation condition is most appropriate for accurately modelling friction braking processes. The importance of the thermal contact conductance in the analysis of heat transfer in friction braking is established, and it is confirmed that the heat partition ratio is not uniformly distributed along the interface under normal and high interface thermal conductance conditions.