Numerical analysis of thermo-elastic contact problem of disc brakes for vehicle on gradient surfaces

Abstract

In this study, the thermo-elastic effects of frictional heat generation in a disc brake system due to braking actions were simulated. The mathematical model that defined the problem was developed from the kinetic and potential energies of moving vehicles on the gradient surfaces. This problem was solved for the selected geometry of disc brake and pad with their material properties selected from existing literatures using the finite element method and the computational results were obtained. The thermal deformation obtained was in good agreement with similar literature results.Also, for the same braking period and conditions, the results showed that a vehicle ascending a hill gave a higher temperature rise, Von Mises stress and thermal deformation on brake contact surfaces than when descending hill. Therefore, the braking period required to bring a moving vehicle in ascendent motion to a lower speed is expected to be shorter because of the gravity effect than horizontal motion, while descendent motion requires longer braking period.