Sensitivity analysis and Kriging based models for robust stability analysis of brake systems

• A constructive approach for robust stability analysis of brake systems is proposed.
• The approach consists of the global sensitivity analysis and Kriging models.
• Sensitivity of a brake system's stability to the variability of design parameters is quantified by using Sobol indices.
• Kriging models are is proposed to robustly predict instability proportions.

This paper presents a global strategy for the prediction of brake squeal. This approach is based on the global sensitivity analysis combined with Kriging modeling. The main aim is to assess the pertinence of using this strategy to build suitable and efficient instability predictors that can be potentially associated with numerical optimization schemes and/or robustness analysis algorithms for a robust design of brake systems. Through the use of a simplified brake system, the global sensitivity analysis is, firstly, shown to be essential for obtaining great insight on how design parameters influence individually and/or collectively the stability behavior. The latter is characterized by the distance of all the systems eigenvalues from the imaginary axis. It is shown that the so-called Sobol indices help for an objective quantification of the importance of taking parameter uncertainty into account in the whole design process. Based on these conclusions, Kriging modeling is, secondly, proposed to robustly predict friction induced instabilities. Its efficiency is then demonstrated. Consequently, the global sensitivity analysis and Kriging modeling give a very promising strategy helping for squeal prediction and, more generally, for optimal and robust design of brake systems.