A numerical and experimental study on the factors that influence heat partitioning in disc brakes

To investigate the heat partition on a vehicle disc brake, a small scale test rig with one contact interface was used. This allowed the disc/pad contact temperatures to be measured with fast-response foil thermocouples and a rubbing thermocouple. Based on the experimental conditions a 3D symmetric disc brake FE model has been created. Frictional heat generation was modelled using the ABAQUS finite element analysis software. The interface tribo-layer which affects heat partitioning was modelled using an equivalent thermal conductance value obtained from the authors¿ previous work. A 10 second drag braking was simulated and the history and distribution of temperature, heat flux multiplied by the nodal contact area, heat flux leaving the surface and contact pressure was recorded. Test rig and FE model temperatures were compared to evaluate the two methods. Results show that heat partitioning varies in space and time, and at the same time contact interface temperatures do not match. It is affected by the instantaneous contact pressure distribution, which tends to be higher on the pad leading edge at the inner radius side. They are also affected by the thermal contact resistance at the components contact interface.

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10454/4413

Version

Published version

Citation

Loizou, A., Qi, H. S. and Day, A. J. (2010). A numerical and experimental study on the factors that influence heat partitioning in disc brakes. Paper presented at the 33rd FISITA World Automotive Congress 2010, Student Congress, held at Budapest, Hungary. Organised by FISITA (the International Federation of Automotive Engineering Societies) and GTE (Scientific Society for Mechanical Engineering).

Link to published version

http://www.fisita.com/education/congress/sc10/fisita2010scp26.pdf

Type

Conference paper