A 2D finite element model of frictional heating in a pad-disc brake system is proposed for analyzing the heat partition and heat flux at the pad/disc interface during braking. A formulation of friction heat generation during braking with constant velocity is presented, and the effects of thermal contact resistance on a contact surface are simulated by ABAQUS with different thermal contact conductance/clearance settings. The heat partition at contact surface with different time instants are analysed. Results show that the heat partition along the interface is affected by the interface contact pressure and the thermal contact conductance. Additionally, results based upon the proposed model show that at normal thermal contact conductance conditions, typically 104 w/m2k for friction brake applications, the heat partition and the interface temperature become sensitive to the interface pressure variation, in comparison with that under ideal high thermal contact conductance condition (or low thermal contact resistance condition), typically 106 W/m2k. The comparison between results from simulations with different interface thermal conductance values indicate parameters that are sensitive in normal thermal conductance applications.

Qiu, Le*; Qi, Hongsheng; Wood, Alastair, University of Bradford, United Kingdom