Aerodynamic Disc Brake Drag: An Elusive Source of Variability

The ever-present drive to increase vehicle range and efficiency has resulted in disc brake caliper requirements at or near zero residual drag. It is increasingly critical to understand and design around potential edge cases that can drastically increase off-brake drag. One frequently observed, but often misunderstood, phenomenon is drag induced by aerodynamic forces surrounding the brake pad. Complex airflow characteristics surrounding the pad in the brake corner environment can lead to Venturi Effect induced air pressure differentials on each side of the pad, leading to transient, yet pronounced, increases in brake drag. This paper will follow a case study during which brake pad pressure differentials were discovered and experimentally measured, review the Venturi Effect as it relates to brake corners, and explore modelling approaches for identifying and correcting designs that are prone to this phenomenon.