Three-dimensional FE model for the calculation of temperature of a disc brake at temperature-dependent coefficients of friction

The three-dimensional transient temperature field of a disc brake generated during a single and a multiple braking process at temperature-dependent and constant coefficients of friction was analyzed. The calculations were performed for the two materials of a pad (FC-16L and FMC-11) combined with the cast-iron (ChNMKh) disc by using the finite element method (FEM). Analytical dependencies of the coefficient of friction on the temperature for these two friction pairs were obtained on the basis of the experimental data at different values of the contact pressures. It was established that relatively slight fluctuations of the coefficient of friction have direct impact on the contact temperature of the disc. The maximum temperature generated during the single braking process at constant coefficient of friction in relation to the case incorporating temperature-dependent coefficient of friction was underestimated by 14.4% for the friction pair FC-16L/ChNMKh (increase in the coefficient of friction by 23.1%), and overestimated by 4.6% for FMC-11/ChNMKh (decrease in the coefficient of friction by 8.4%).